Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking 10 best 49ers wide receivers taken in NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice (80) lines up during a 20-13 victory over the Detroit Lions on October 2, 1988, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, (Photo by Dan Honda/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice (80) lines up during a 20-13 victory over the Detroit Lions on October 2, 1988, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, (Photo by Dan Honda/Getty Images) /
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Roger Goodell,
Roger Goodell, /

No. 8: Michael Crabtree

No. 10 Overall, 2009 NFL Draft

Like J.J. Stokes, the next player on this list comes along with some controversy and disappointment.

But it doesn’t change the fact many a 49ers fan was thrilled the Oakland Raiders ultimately passed on former Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the 2009 NFL Draft, allowing the Niners to grab the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner at No. 10 overall.

Granted, Crabtree has been associated with two of the more infamous plays in franchise history: the 2014 NFL Championship game tip drill by cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks, as well as the failed fade-route non-touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.

Those moments hurt, yes. So does the fact Crabtree accumulated over 1,000 yards receiving just once during his 49ers tenure (2012).

It’s fair to say Crabtree never truly lived up to expected levels during his six-year 49ers career. At the same time, though, his 4,327 receiving yards and status as a No. 1 go-to target during the Niners’ playoff years in the early 2010s is worth mentioning.

Those accolades land him at No. 8 on our list of 49ers drafted wideouts.