The San Francisco 49ers drafting a wide receiver early in 2026 was essentially a given, at least prior to them adding free-agent veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk.
Yet neither one of those two standouts figure to be long-term solutions out wide. Sure, both Evans and Kirk lessen the need, but it wouldn't be a shocker if general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan hone in on a wideout early when the NFL Draft rolls around this April.
Potentially in Round 1, perhaps even at No. 27 overall.
While plausible and still very reasonable, depending on which talents end up falling down the board, there's one player the Niners have to avoid no matter what.
It's not character concerns or off-field red flags, no. Rather, this prospect would fall in line with what San Francisco endured far too much in 2025 and unfortunately boasts a history of: injuries.
And the player who is of concern is Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
49ers must pass up on WR Jordyn Tyson if he falls to them
There's certainly a lot to like about the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Tyson. The receiver is tough, no questioning that, and he's played through several injuries during his collegiate career. Arizona State deployed him all over its offensive formations, too, and Shanahan would certainly appreciate that kind of versatility in his own system.
Granted, Tyson is viewed as a mid-Round 1 target, including Bleacher Report's scouting report on him where he's the No. 16 overall prospect. And that means the 49ers may have no chance to land the receiver unless they execute an aggressive trade-up, which seems highly unlikely.
However, even if Tyson slips toward the end of the first round, Lynch and Shanahan need to pass him up.
Just check out what Pro Football Focus wrote up on Tyson:
"He missed 15 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Colorado due to a torn ACL, MCL and PCL. Tyson missed both the Big 12 Championship Game and College Football Playoff Quarterfinal in 2024 due to a collarbone injury. He was also out for three games this past season due to a hamstring injury. "
In a sarcastic measure, Tyson almost sounds like a Niners-type player; regularly out of the lineup with one ailment or another, sadly.
Yet that's something San Francisco fully has to avoid, and using a first-round pick on a player who's awfully injury-prone is simply a risk it can't afford to take in what's already turned into a stacked NFC West arms race.
True, the receiver's on-field abilities can't be discounted. And a fully healthy version of Tyson falling to the 49ers in Round 1 would be too good to pass up.
But those injuries... and the Niners' brutal history of them.