2020 NFL Combine: 5 players who improved 49ers draft stock
By Peter Panacy
829. . Wide Receiver. Crimson Tide . Henry Ruggs III. 1. player
Let’s face it, Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is the longest of long shots to fall to the 49ers at No. 31.
This, after Ruggs shocked the NFL Combine with an eye-popping 4.27-second 40-yard time, leading all wide receivers in this particular category.
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It didn’t stop there for the 5-foot-11, 188 pounder, though. Ruggs then posted a 42-inch leap, which was third best among this same group and pretty spectacular, considering Ruggs was far from the tallest wide receiver participating at the combine.
While Ruggs’ teammate at Alabama, Jerry Jeudy, commanded the vast majority of attention and will likely go further ahead of Ruggs in Round 1, one could make the argument the former had the far-better NFL Combine workouts, putting him in the discussion of being selected in the teens. Beforehand, a safe bet would have had Ruggs going in the early 20s.
Take all the elements of San Francisco’s needs at wide receiver. Then imagine Ruggs being implemented in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, paired with Deebo Samuel and opening up the field deep for a player like tight end George Kittle.
Yes, Shanahan could do a world of offensive wonders with Ruggs on the roster.
Next. 2020 NFL Draft: 3 prospects 49ers hope fall to them at No. 31. dark
Again, it probably won’t happen. But NFL Drafts rarely go according to plan. And one has to think, should Ruggs somehow fall towards the end of Round 1, Shanahan and the 49ers have to be crossing their collective fingers the speedy wideout makes it to No. 31.