It doesn't take a genius to see that newly acquired Mike Evans will be the alpha wide receiver from day one for the San Francisco 49ers.
Number two on the depth chart, however, is a bit murkier.
Third-year man Ricky Pearsall has the advantage early in the year, though he has yet to put together a complete season. After that, more question marks ensue. But one of those question marks is turning heads, and it's arguably the last name fans would expect.
Recent buzz regarding wideout Jacob Cowing has been all positive. According to sources, he's been making play after play and is trending in the right direction.
It's not the first time Cowing has turned heads. He had a strong offseason last year, but injuries stifled his progress, and he missed the entire 2025 season.
Now healthy, it could be his time to capitalize on his strong showings.
49ers' wideouts will not lack for opportunity
While he's currently buried on the depth chart, there is every reason to believe Cowing will have plenty of opportunity to earn a larger piece of the pie.
After Evans, the 49ers have far from a deep wide receiver room. Pearsall has yet to eclipse 600 yards in his young career. Journeyman Christian Kirk has seemingly surpassed his peak years. Rookie De'Zhaun is a question mark and, while he has draft capital, does not come without criticism.
In short, Cowing will have a legitimate chance to carve out a role in San Francisco, however large it may be. If he continues to impress in training camp and beyond, coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff might have to have a serious discussion about how often Cowing needs to be on the field.
The opportunity will not come without its challenges, though. As of now, Cowing is arguably sixth on the depth chart or lower. On top of the names previously mentioned, Demarcus Robinson is still a member of the team, and Ole Miss product Jordan Watkins was taken in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.
The group makes up a crowded, yet unproven, pass-catching crew capable of a wide range of outcomes. Regardless of who emerges, someone will have to step up to perform across from Evans, or Brock Purdy might have more difficulty finding open pass catchers than he would like.
Hopefully, Cowing is ready to take the next step and answer those burning questions.
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