5 prospects SF 49ers should avoid in Round 1 of 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
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Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, is the combination of size, good speed, physicality and route-running abilities ideal for any starting-caliber wideout at the NFL level. And those would all be traits ideal for Kyle Shanahan to deploy in this season and beyond.
So, why would Bateman be listed as a player to avoid?
In all reality, the SF 49ers should pass on any wide receivers early in this year’s NFL Draft for the same reason why they don’t need to go after a player like Najee Harris.
Bateman could be right in the Niners’ wheelhouse, as far as the No. 12 overall pick is concerned. But keep in mind, San Francisco has invested heavily with early round picks at the position the past few years, including using second-round selections on receivers Dante Pettis in 2018, Deebo Samuel in 2019 and a Round 1 pick on Brandon Aiyuk last year.
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Samuel and Aiyuk have already cemented themselves as a promising young duo. And while there are concerns about the depth behind them, it would be best for the SF 49ers to let Samuel and Aiyuk shine in their respective roles.
Passing on a player with Bateman’s ilk would be tough, yes. But 2020 should be a pure stop to the Niners’ recent efforts to overhaul the top of their wide receiver corps via the draft.