49ers 2019 NFL Draft needs: Power ranking top 5 wide receivers
By Peter Panacy
The first player on this list, Stanford’s J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, makes the cut into the top five based on one key thing: general manager John Lynch’s association with his alma mater.
San Francisco 49ers
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Arcega-Whiteside didn’t participate in drills at the NFL Scouting Combine, which could keep his NFL Draft stock somewhere early in Round 2, where the 49ers select at No. 36 overall. A strong pro day, which the Niners will surely attend, might change that. But for now, look for Arcega-Whiteside to be on San Francisco’s radar.
Arcega-Whiteside managed 63 receptions for 1,059 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior season at Stanford. As a red-zone threat (the Niners offense finished last in touchdown efficiency here last season), it would make some sense for the 49ers to view Arcega-Whiteside as a possible solution.
While he’s not the best at getting out of his routes from the line of scrimmage, Arcega-Whiteside does excel at creating separation once his routes are in motion, therefore setting himself up to be a prime yards-after-catch master.
That should be a key attribute to watch when considering head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
It will be interesting to see how good he looks in pro-day agility and 40-yard dash times, which could heavily influence whether or not San Francisco will be interested.