SF 49ers: Picking one 2021 Senior Bowl player for position needs
By Robert Smith
SF 49ers Red-Zone Need: Nico Collins, Michigan
With this roster need, we finagled it a bit. The SF 49ers may be in search of a second tight end to pair with George Kittle, but they may also be looking to add a sizeable wide receiver, especially if free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne is not able to be re-signed. Hence the “finagling” part.
So, with that, let’s introduce Nico Collins, the Michigan wide receiver.
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There are quite a few football fans who may not know Collins. Collins, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound athletic wideout did not play in 2020 as he decided to opt out amid the pandemic.
But his invitation to the Senior Bowl has led to a remarkably successful showing and soaring draft stock. And you can get the idea of just how good a red-zone weapon he could be by looking at this particular play here.
Collins ability to highpoint the ball, along with his physicality and deep-play threat, could give the Niners a true deep threat and red-zone target to team with Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel.
ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay (h/t The Wolverine) had this to say about Collins:
"He’s special. There are three or four receivers that can work themselves into the top 50, and Nico is one of them. He averaged 19.7 yards per catch in 2019. This guy is special."
San Francisco may wind up looking for a tight end instead, but if they are looking at adding a big target on the outside, Collins could be a nice pick on day two.