49ers NFL Draft: Biggest winners, losers from 2021

Winners: 49ers depth wide receivers

It was highly expected the Niners would bring aboard at least one rookie wide receiver in the NFL Draft, particularly after losing their No. 3 best option from the last few years, Kendrick Bourne, in free agency to the New England Patriots.

Yet San Francisco elected not to do this, instead placing its faith in its top two starters, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, while pinning rookie hopes on the undrafted free agent, UAB’s Austin Watkins.

More from Niner Noise

• Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
• DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet 
• 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
• 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
• Updated 49ers salary cap space ahead of 2023 NFL Draft

Watkins joins a deep-but-questionable group of reserve wideouts currently on the roster. Right now, his primary competition consists of players like:

• Richie James
• River Cracraft
• Jauan Jennings
• Mohamed Sanu
• Jalen Hurd
• Trent Sherfield
• Travis Benjamin

Had the 49ers drafted a rookie or two, the depth behind Samuel and Aiyuk would have been much stronger. But that would have spelled bad news for those buried much deeper on the depth chart.

Instead, each of those names now stands to have a far better chance of making the 53-man roster or, at the very least, seeing an increased number of reps during training camp where they can potentially show off their abilities to 31 other potential suitors across the league.

That might not have easily been the case if more wideouts were drafted.