East-West Shrine game: 5 2020 NFL Draft prospects 49ers could target

No. 4: Malcolm Perry, Quarterback/Wide Receiver, Navy

It’s not exactly breaking news when I write that Kyle Shanahan is a mastermind when it comes to running the offense. The question is: Could he consider copying off one of the most unusual situations in the NFL?

In New Orleans, Taysom Hill is turning heads with his positionless antics. It’s impossible to give him a position, and I won’t break my brain trying.

I bring it up because Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry could very well be a kind of Taysom Hill player at the next level.

Perry is the ultimate project. He won’t be a quarterback in the NFL, but he’s showcased enough speed and athleticism to make it as either a running back or a receiver. He also does know how to throw a football.

Does this sound familiar yet?

Now it should be noted that, at 5-foot-9 and around 190 pounds, Perry is not comparable physically to Hill. But it is certainly possible that San Francisco could figure out how to utilize Perry in a similar way.

The evil genius mind of Shanahan could figure out a lot of trick plays that can use him. And if he’s merely to be a receiver, then he could still primarily feature in the slot.

It’s a project, but it’s an intriguing one in an evolving NFL.