49ers NFL Draft: 3 prospects who can replace Kendrick Bourne

49ers Target No. 2: Cornell Powell, Clemson

Marquez Stevenson would be a good target for the 49ers if they wanted to stray a little bit from what Kendrick Bourne provided. But if Kyle Shanahan is wanting to find someone of the nearly identical ilk, Clemson wide receiver Cornell Powell would be slightly more ideal.

Powell is much safer an early day-three addition in the NFL Draft, probably a Round 4 or Round 5 target. And his 6-foot, 204 pounds, Powell’s build is almost the same as Bourne’s.

Yet Powell is faster with a sub-4.50 40-yard time, which is a bonus.

As far as physicality goes, it’s there not unlike Bourne. Powell has soft hands while fighting for the ball, too, which is another bonus and combines to make a must-need for a possession-type receiver.

There are enough concerns, however, to suggest Powell wouldn’t be a necessary upgrade over Bourne, though.

For starters, Powell’s 2020 campaign marked the lone year in which he was a starter. While his 53-catch, 882-yard, seven-touchdown campaign for the Tigers last season was excellent, he never had more than 15 grabs in the previous four years he played. There’s some serious “boom or bust” worry there, and it’s fair to wonder about the lack of experience.

On top of that, Bourne turned into a quality route-runner early, while Powell’s route-running skills and understanding of a complex passing offense are both limited, at best.

Still, the raw intangibles are there, and the Niners may be willing to gamble on those instead.