5 bold predictions for 49ers 2020 NFL Draft class
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Brandon Aiyuk Will Match Deebo Samuel’s 2019 Numbers with 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk was one of only two wide receivers Kyle Shanahan prioritized in Round 1 of the NFL Draft, the other being now-Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
The Niners banked on Aiyuk slipping a bit in the draft, yet the team ultimately got aggressive enough to trade up to the No. 25 overall pick to grab him.
Now, Aiyuk has a chance to shine.
Sure, Aiyuk only had one explosive year at Arizona State, 2019, after playing the proverbial “second fiddle” to now-New England Patriots wideout N’Keal Harry the year prior. Still, Aiyuk’s 1,192 receiving yards and eight touchdowns off 65 receptions, paired with his excellent route-running capabilities, should make him a force in Shanahan’s offense right away.
Samuel’s development is still key, and fans may recall how he reached 802 receiving yards his rookie year, largely slanted from an impressive second-half effort.
For Aiyuk, he’ll have the benefit of Jimmy Garoppolo playing in his second full season as a starter, as well as both Samuel and George Kittle cementing their own chemistry as Garoppolo’s top targets.
Aiyuk probably won’t reach the 1,000-yard plateau in year one. But looking at him as an 800-yard receiver isn’t out of the question at all.