49ers mock NFL Draft 2021 using only small-school players

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Cade Johnson of SDSU outruns the defense during Saturday’s win over Drake (Image Handler) /

Round 3, Pick No. 86 Overall (via Jets): 49ers select wide receiver Cade Johnson, South Dakota State

Like Quinn Meinerz, another hot riser in the weeks before the NFL Draft is South Dakota State wide receiver Cade Johnson.

Johnson also had himself quite the week of practice at the Senior Bowl. And in one-on-one drills, few defensive backs could match the 5-foot-11, 184-pound receiver’s exemplary footwork and get-off.

As far as production went pre-2020, Johnson recorded an impressive 72 receptions for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 while also boasting eight carries for 149 yards on the ground en route to being named an Associated Press first-team All-American that year.

The shiftiness and explosiveness are traits the 49ers would like to see, and bulking up their wide receiver depth behind the two starters, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, would be a good thing to do in the middle rounds.

Plus, Johnson’s versatility could be used well within the slot, and the Niners yet to have an answer for that opening.

Johnson would also help fill a void in the return game, too, which only adds to his toolbox and makes him an excellent small-school target.