SF 49ers: Grading 2020 rookie NFL Draft class after one season

Round 1: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco might not have landed former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson, whose rookie campaign with the Minnesota Vikings could put him in contention for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

But the SF 49ers’ second first-round selection, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, was nearly as impressive anyway.

Aiyuk ended up leading all Niners pass-catchers with 60 receptions for 748 yards. During one stretch of 10 games, Aiyuk recorded at least one touchdown or 100 yards in nine of them, showcasing his ability to be a true No. 1 receiver in San Francisco’s offense.

If it weren’t for Aiyuk’s setbacks with both injuries and placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which limited him to just 12 games played, there would have been a strong chance for him to break the franchise’s record for most receiving yards by a rookie (927) set by the Hall of Famer, Jerry Rice, back in 1985.

Still, Aiyuk’s performance over the course of the year suggests he’ll be a vital cog and key impact player for Kyle Shanahan for a long, long time.

Needless to say, this pick worked out well for the SF 49ers.