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5 players the 49ers should target in Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 14: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs makes a catch for a 1st quarter touchdown against Anthony Hines #1 of the Missouri Tigers at Sanford Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 14: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs makes a catch for a 1st quarter touchdown against Anthony Hines #1 of the Missouri Tigers at Sanford Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

If the 49ers end up grabbing a wide receiver in Round 2, this pick would be a moot point. John Lynch would likely be looking harder at either a safety or a cornerback.

That said, there are more second-round defensive back prospects available, and a few wideouts could end up slipping into the third round.

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South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel would be a great pickup here, although it’s a bit of a stretch to suggest he slips into Round 3.

A player who could slip, however, is Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley.

Ridley’s college production should be taken with a grain of salt. The 6-foot-1, 199-pound wideout was part of a run-first Georgia offense, which negated a lot of the would-be targets he could have received with another program.

But that doesn’t mean he lacks the prowess to impact the NFL ranks.

Ridley’s NFL Scouting Combine numbers weren’t great, particularly running a 4.58 40-yard time and not showing a great time in the three-cone drill, either. Yet Ridley is a keen route runner, which is arguably more important to Kyle Shanahan than pure speed. He’s physical, too, which addresses another San Francisco offensive need at the position after parting ways with veteran pass catcher Pierre Garçon this offseason.

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Don’t be shocked if San Francisco targets Ridley in Round 3 if the team doesn’t grab a wide receiver earlier in the draft.