If you're among those thinking the San Francisco 49ers won't draft a wide receiver in Round 1 after grabbing veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency last March, you might want to revisit your conclusion.
At least according to ESPN's Matt Miller.
Miller, along with the Niners' onsite ESPN reporter, Nick Wagoner, teamed up to break down the latest scuttlebutt surrounding San Francisco heading into the final countdown ahead of the NFL Draft, kicking off on Thursday, April 23.
And while the general consensus has largely been the 49ers using the No. 27 overall pick on another glaring need, either a pass-rusher or offensive tackle, the notion of using said pick on a wide receiver isn't going away.
At all.
ESPN says a WR is still very much in play for 49ers in Round 1
Wagoner circled the Niners' situation with soon-to-be 38-year-old left tackle Trent Williams as a potential X-factor, although it doesn't seem as if the front office is as worried about an immediate solution as it is about a long-term fix.
That said, Miller is claiming to hear buzz about San Francisco targeting wide receivers in Round 1 instead of its other needs:
In reading the tea leaves and talking to people around the league, the 49ers don't necessarily view offensive tackle as a Round 1 priority. Instead, they have been heavily connected to wide receivers by teams when running through mock draft exercises. KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) is a name to watch.
Indeed, Concepcion might be a fan-favorite pick. Prior to the Evans and Kirk additions, the route-running standout was widely viewed as a top target, appearing on many a mock draft and prospect-analysis breakdown. But the thinking largely shifted after the free-agent adds at wide receiver.
However, both Evans and Kirk may not be long-term solutions either. The former signed a three-year deal but has no guaranteed money after 2026, while Kirk inked a one-year contract.
Taking those factors into consideration, perhaps Concepcion is very much in play toward the end of Round 1.