49ers NFL Draft: 4 college prospects who could replace Deebo Samuel

49ers replacement for Deebo Samuel No. 1: Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

There’s a good chance Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson is selected squarely in the middle of Round 1, perhaps even the first player at his position selected on draft day.

As things stand now, the 49ers wouldn’t have a chance drafting at No. 61 overall. But if Deebo Samuel is traded, they’ll assuredly get a first-round pick in exchange, and it wouldn’t be out of the question to see that used on someone like the 6-foot-0, 192-pound Wilson.

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 4/13/2022.

Forget Wilson being a “wide back” or anything along those lines. It’s not his game. Instead, his upside could be that of a true alpha wide receiver with plenty of speed to burn and the ability to create all that YAC that made Samuel a household name. Even on short-area passes and screens, Wilson has enough burst to turn those attempts into chunk plays with relative ease.

While Wilson’s overall body of work relied more upon his natural skill set rather than technique or route-running savvy, the top-end potential is certainly there.

So, if the Niners want to bid farewell to Samuel and find another up-and-comer who can be plugged into a wide receiver-friendly offense, Wilson would be an easy fit.