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49ers 2019 NFL Draft needs: Power ranking top 5 wide receivers

By Peter Panacy

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: A.J. Brown #1 of the Mississippi Rebels points to the sky after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Illinois Salukis during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 8: A.J. Brown #1 of the Mississippi Rebels points to the sky after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Illinois Salukis during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 9: Deebo Samuel #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks waits with teammate to take to the field prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 9: Deebo Samuel #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks waits with teammate to take to the field prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

There’s a strong chance the San Francisco 49ers will add a wide receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft, and Niner Noise ranks out the top five candidates for selection this April.

With relatively few options on the free-agent market, the San Francisco 49ers will likely use one of their six picks in the 2019 NFL Draft to grab a wide receiver.

Possibly as high as the second round, as Niner Noise’s Jeremy Wohlfart speculated.

The necessity for a top-tier wideout is mandated by the fact no Niners wide receiver crested more than 500 receiving yards in 2018. Sure, injuries hindered the production from last year’s rookie, Dante Pettis, who could emerge as a top threat in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

That said, San Francisco hasn’t had a 1,000-yard wide receiver since Anquan Boldin back in 2014. For the most part, including different regimes, the team has missed out on this position greatly in its recent history.

Expect that to change this offseason, especially with there being a number of high-profile receiving prospects in this year’s NFL Draft.

But what if we could limit the number to just five?

Well, we did (you’re welcome). Yet this isn’t a prospect big board, of sorts. Instead, this is a ranking of the five best wide receivers for San Francisco, taking into account scheme fit, need, attributes, production, NFL Scouting Combine numbers and the approximate value where the Niners select on draft day.

As such, you’ll likely see more than a few first- or second-round wideouts not grace this list. That doesn’t mean they’re bad, rather just don’t expect the Niners to target them on draft day.

Got it? Good. Here are the 49ers’ five best-ranked receivers, power rankings style.