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

Round 3, Pick No. 102 Overall (Compensatory): 49ers select wide receiver Jaelon Darden, North Texas

San Francisco doubling up on wide receivers isn’t that too strange a theory. After all, the 49ers did this back in 2019 when they added Deebo Samuel in Round 2, then turned to a more developmental candidate in the third round with wide receiver Jalen Hurd.

Either way, the Niners’ depth at the position essentially mandates the selection of two wide receivers, and getting a player like North Texas wideout Jaelon Darden would be a great way to bolster the back end of the depth chart that is led by the veteran, Richie James, along with less-than-inspiring commodities like River Cracraft, Jauan Jennings and Mohamed Sanu.

Darden, only 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, is similar in build to Cade Johnson but has a vastly different skill set in that regard.

While both are explosive, Darden is much more physical and broke 23 tackles on 74 receptions in 2020, meaning he’s always going to be a candidate to pick up more yards after the catch. Johnson may be a bit shiftier and able to create space with himself with better footwork. But Darden is someone who can use his straightline speed to take the top off a defense.

That could be valuable for Kyle Shanahan’s offense, looking to find straight-line seam routes to split safeties.

The Niners haven’t had that since former wide receiver Marquise Goodwin was healthy and contributing early in 2019.