49ers: Ranking the 10 best NFL Draft picks of the decade

Ranking 49ers 10 best NFL Draft picks of the decade

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

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Wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 9: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel

2019 NFL Draft

Round 2, Pick No. 36

OK, so the 49ers have only had wide receiver Deebo Samuel for one season. It’s way too early to tell if Samuel will turn out to be considered a good pick for the Niners or not.

But if you pass the best wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice‘s record for most catches by a 49ers rookie receiver, then you are going to make this list. Samuel has 57 catches for 802 yards and three receiving touchdowns on the year, but something stands out beyond his stat line.

It always takes more than one defender to bring him down. Over half of his receiving yards come after the catch.

His aggressiveness and toughness are something the 49ers haven’t had at the position since former Niners wideout Anquan Boldin.

It has only been one year, but the future looks extremely bright for Samuel, making him an incredible value in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.