Jacob Cowing didn't see much action his rookie year, and if the 49ers opt to grab a receiver or two in the 2025 NFL Draft, that might not change.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is notoriously hard on his wide receivers.
It's unclear whether or not this was the case for 2024 rookie wideout Jacob Cowing, who impressed during his NFL Combine workouts with his blazing-fast 4.38 40-yard time and came with plenty of experience, which is precisely what the Niners aimed to get out of last season's NFL Draft class.
In a sense, Cowing was supposed to be what former wide receiver Danny Gray never turned into: a deep-threat weapon who'd help fill out the back end of San Francisco's depth chart.
Heck, there was even an argument Cowing would have a more impactful rookie year than the 49ers' first-round selection, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, especially after the latter was shot in an attempted robbery in late August.
But Cowing ended up looking more like Gray in year one than anything else, scantly seeing the field on offense (106 total snaps) while recording a mere four catches on six targets for 80 yards.
True, the Niners' wide receiver situation heading into the 2025 draft is notably different than it was to begin Cowing's rookie year. Deebo Samuel is now with the Washington Commanders, while Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered midseason.
In that sense, San Francisco needs both Pearsall and Cowing to contribute in a significant way.
However, if the 49ers take a specific action in the draft, it could spell trouble for the latter.
Jacob Cowing is in danger if 49ers grab a wide receiver (or 2) in NFL Draft
The back end of the Niners' receiving depth chart is awfully thin, and both Pearsall and veteran Jauan Jennings are essentially the only two fully healthy and reliable options at San Francisco's disposal.
The 49ers have other more pressing needs, yes. And, in a weak class for wideouts, the Niners may not reach on some would-be receiving competition to put someone like Cowing at serious risk.
However, San Francisco has already met with several wide receivers, all of whom could put the second-year pro on the roster bubble. Ole Miss' Jordan Watkins and Washington State's Kyle Williams both had top-30 visits with the 49ers, while Virginia Tech's Da'Quan Felton, Memphis' Roc Taylor and Georgia's Arian Smith had virtual or phone meetings.
Like Cowing, those names are likely day-three picks, which could indicate the Niners are at least exploring the possibility of giving the former University of Arizona wideout some "friendly" competition in training camp.
If San Francisco doesn't spend assets on the position, though, Cowing's future will look much brighter.