SF 49ers: 10 wide receivers to target in 2021 NFL Draft

SF 49ers Target No. 2: Nico Collins, Michigan

If the SF 49ers simply want to get greedy and experiment with more intangibles than anything else, they could do much worse than go after Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins.

Collins’ decision to sit out 2020 didn’t help his NFL Draft stock much, but he was productive enough in the Wolverines offense in 2018 and 2019 with over 1,300 receiving yards despite only having so-so quarterback play to support him.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, it’s not hard to see why Collins would be an intriguing target, potentially in Round 4 or 5 as someone who could potentially do what the Niners were hoping to get out of Jalen Hurd the last two years.

Only Collins isn’t new to the position like Hurd, a converted running back, is.

What separates Collins from many of the other big-bodied wideouts is his speed, and he clocked a highly respectable 4.43 40-yard time during his pro day, proving he can be quite the mismatch down the field if he’s able to separate.

San Francisco could benefit from this, boasting a downfield threat who’d be able to win one-on-one contested matchups with faster defensive backs or safeties covering him deep. That’s a plus, too.

While Collins would probably need some time to hone his route tree and develop his footwork, a day-three flier would be well worth the investment from the SF 49ers’ vantage point.