49ers 2020 NFL Draft needs: Ranking top 5 wide receiver options

The 2020 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and it’s time to start looking at how the San Francisco 49ers can improve their roster to continue the success of this past season. One of the team’s biggest needs is at wide receiver, so here are the Niners’ top five options at wide receiver.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be here before you know it, and it’s time to start looking at how the San Francisco 49ers can improve their roster in order to follow up this year’s Super Bowl run. One of the team’s biggest needs is at wide receiver, so this article will take a look at the five best fits for San Francisco in a draft class many are calling the best wide receiver class in recent memory.

First, let’s recap where the 49ers are right now in terms of wide receivers. At first glance, it may not seem like wide receiver is one of the Niners’ biggest needs. And it’s true the Niners have some very talented receivers.

Rookie Deebo Samuel had a great season, displaying his ability not only as a stellar wide receiver, but as a runner as well. Emmanuel Sanders was fantastic after being traded for midseason. Kendrick Bourne was reliable and always ready when needed.

Additionally, the Niners have other receivers who struggled with injuries this season, such as Dante Pettis, Jalen Hurd and Trent Taylor. Once these receivers recover, the Niners will have a solid receiver class.

However, the Niners still do not have a true No. 1 wide receiver. The closest thing they had to that this season was Sanders, but Sanders is aging and is going to be a free agent this offseason, so it is unknown if he will still be with the team next year.

For the fun of this ranking, I will be approaching it as if Sanders has signed with another team in free agency. Additionally, I will be ranking not the five best wide receivers in this draft class, but the five who best fit with San Francisco.

There are a few things the 49ers need in a wide receiver. One is a true, elite No. 1 receiver. While Samuel could quite possibly evolve into that, he is not at this point an elite NFL receiver.

Another thing the 49ers need in a wide receiver is versatility. In order to succeed in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, a receiver has to be versatile. Shanahan often has his receivers run the ball, run trick plays and execute other creative play designs.

So, a receiver for the Niners has to a great runner as well.

Finally, the Niners are in need of a big-bodied receiver. The Niners don’t really have a tall, big option at receiver other than Hurd, who while being an incredible athletic talent, has limited experience at the position.

So, the Niners are looking for an elite receiving option, with versatility and size. Without further ado, here are the rankings of the 49ers top five wide receiver options, evaluated by overall talent, and fit into the system.