49ers NFL Draft: 2 North Dakota State prospects to pair with Trey Lance
By Fred Smith
49ers NFL Draft target No. 1: Christian Watson, Wide Receiver
2021 Season Stats: Receptions: 43
Yards: 800
Touchdowns: 7
If the opportunity to select him arises, this is an easy one: wide receiver Christian Watson.
With All-Pro wideout Deebo Samuel recently dropping a bombshell on the 49ers by requesting a trade, it is needless to say, the Niners may be enticed to select a wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Should the 49ers elect to select Watson, they would be receiving a player who would be able to compensate in various facets of the game.
Watson, standing at 6-foot4 and 208 pounds, has a recognizable burst of speed that immediately jumps off your screen. Watson possesses a unique ability to get behind secondaries for impact plays. He’s simply dynamic with the ball in his hands. During his tenure at North Dakota State, Watson made plays impacting both the offense and the special teams unit.
Many of San Francisco’s offseason transactions have centered around strengthening the special teams unit, and Watson could be an additional piece to the puzzle there, too. Outside of that, adding Watson to the Niners offense is bound to do wonders for Trey Lance, who will be entering his first year as a starter in a loaded NFC West.
Read More: 3 ways 49ers support Trey Lance in 2022 NFL Draft
Unfortunately for the 49ers, the speedy wideout from Tampa, Florida, impressed and exceeded expectations so much at the 2022 NFL Combine that his stock has risen sharply, with him landing into the first round in some mock drafts.
With that said, it’s going to take a little bit of luck to pair him with his former college teammate, Lance.
Nevertheless, if that opportunity presents itself, it could be very impactful for San Francisco.