Niner Noise
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49ers’ 7-round mock 2019 NFL Draft with Josh Allen in Round 1

By Peter Panacy

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats get ready prior to the VRBO Citrus Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats get ready prior to the VRBO Citrus Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Not all of the 49ers’ picks this NFL Draft should focus on defense.

And in Round 3, the Niners make a move to upgrade their beleaguered wide receiver corps, which failed to produce a single player to reach 500 receiving yards in 2018. Additionally, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s red-zone offense needs some help, especially after San Francisco ranked dead last in red-zone touchdown efficiency a year ago.

Things get a bit tricky in the third round, though, which means the 49ers need to bank on someone whose draft stock has fallen a bit.

That would be Georgia’s Riley Ridley, who now safely seems to be a Round 3 pick.

The stat geeks wouldn’t be thrilled by Ridley’s numbers over three seasons at Georgia:

Riley Ridley Receiving & Rushing Table
Receiving Rushing Scrimmage
Year School Conf Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD
*2016 Georgia SEC FR WR 6 12 238 19.8 2 3 41 13.7 0 15 279 18.6 2
*2017 Georgia SEC SO WR 8 14 218 15.6 2 1 5 5.0 0 15 223 14.9 2
*2018 Georgia SEC JR WR 14 43 559 13.0 9 0 0 0 43 559 13.0 9
Career Georgia 69 1015 14.7 13 4 46 11.5 0 73 1061 14.5 13

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/8/2019.

But one has to note how Georgia’s offense focused largely on the ground game, which limited Ridley’s chances to be a reputable pass catcher.

If you’re unsure why this matters, just read this piece by The Draft Network’s Brad Kelly, who compared Ridley’s collegiate production and stock value to that of New Orleans Saints superstar receiver, Michael Thomas.

Is Ridley poised to be the next Thomas? If so, the 49ers would love to be the beneficiary.