SF 49ers: 5 things that made Brandon Aiyuk so special in Week 3

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Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (2). Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5: It is not difficult to see why SF 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted Brandon Aiyuk: his speed

Kyle Shanahan must have been beaming from ear to ear when the SF 49ers traded up and drafted Aiyuk with the 25th pick in the first round, the second of the Niners’ two first-round picks.

This is why Shanahan was beaming. He knew nobody could stay with Aiyuk, especially when the receiver is running the crossing route off of play action.

Case in point, look at the start of the fourth quarter, 2nd-and-9 on the Giants 29-yard line. Aiyuk was split out wide right. Quarterback Nick Mullens dropped back and executed a play fake to running back Jerick McKinnon. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who was split out to the left, ran a go route to clear out space for Aiyuk to run underneath.

Aiyuk beat his man off the line and was wide open. Mullens dropped a beautiful pass right into Aiyuk’s hands, giving San Francisco a first down.

Many draft experts were put off, as Aiyuk ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, however, Aiyuk was dealing with an abdominal injury at the time which likely hindered his efforts there.

Week 3 showed everyone he is a lot quicker than that.