The San Francisco 49ers are undergoing a massive transition in their wide receiver room. Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings are already out, and Brandon Aiyuk will soon follow. Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall are set to headline the group in 2026, but the Niners could still use another talented pass catcher to add to the rotation.
They'll have plenty of opportunities to get one in the 2026 NFL Draft. There are multiple talented wideouts who should be available in the later rounds.
Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst could be the best of the bunch. He has all the tools to become a star in San Francisco, and the 49ers wouldn't have to use an early pick to get him.
Ted Hurst is 49ers' perfect late-round answer to WR problem
As enticing as some of the first-round receiver prospects may be for John Lynch and the 49ers, they likely can't afford to use a pick on the position that early. The offensive and defensive lines are more urgently lacking.
Luckily, they can wait until the fourth or fifth round and still find a starting-caliber player.
Hurst came onto the draft radar a bit late. Coming out of Georgia State, he didn't receive much attention until the Senior Bowl, where he was an immediate standout. Since then, he has slowly crept up draft boards.
The 6-foot-4 wideout has the frame and body control to make highlight-reel catches down the field. He's unrefined as a route runner, but he has impressive speed and agility for his size. He projects as an "X" receiver in the NFL, doing most of his work outside the numbers.
At Georgia State, Hurst eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 and totaled 15 touchdowns over the last two years.
There's a reason the young receiver isn't expected to come off the board in the first round. He's not the most technical player, and most of his production came against other small schools. It may take him time to adjust to the NFL, but he has the potential to be a high-quality player.
In San Francisco, he'd take on an immediate role as the fourth receiver behind Evans, Pearsall, and Christian Kirk. As he develops and Evans and Kirk age, Hurst could take over a more significant portion of the targets.
Based on recent projections, Hurst could be available in the fourth round of the draft. If they get the chance, the 49ers shouldn't hesitate to take the Georgia State product.