With it seeming more and more likely that the San Francisco 49ers will try to improve their team through the NFL Draft rather than free agency or trades, one wide receiver who would make a lot of sense on the team is Elic Ayomanor out of Stanford.
The Niners traded away Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders recently, and there are rumors swirling around them potentially trading Brandon Aiyuk. Getting rid of Aiyuk still seems unlikely given his injury and his contract, but it is in the realm of possibility.
Even if they keep Aiyuk, he is almost certainly going to miss the start of the 2025 regular season as he returns from his knee injury suffered last season.
That means San Francisco will have to figure things out on offense while he is on the mend.
As of right now, the receiving corps will most likely consist of Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, and Jacob Cowing. They could still use an extra receiver or two to pad out their ranks, though.
That is where Ayomanor comes in.
Elic Ayomanor is an ideal NFL Draft target for 49ers
The 6-foot-2 receiver had an impressive two seasons at Stanford. In his freshman year, he hauled in 62 passes for 1,013 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. He followed that up in his sophomore season in 2024 with 63 catches for 831 yards and six touchdowns yet again.
NFL.com rates him as a prospect with potential who struggles with drops at times. Bleacher Report notes that he is good with the ball in his hands and with run after catch, which is something San Francisco struggled with in 2024. He also receives high marks for his ability to create separation against defenders, another area in which the 49ers struggled last year.
B/R projects the Canadian-born 21-year-old receiver to be taken in the second round. It will be interesting to see whether the Niners take a chance on him, or whether they will instead try to rebuild their defensive line that has lost many players this offseason.
In a perfect world, Ayomanor would be a perfect fit for San Francisco but wide receiver may not be the biggest concern heading into the draft. Nonetheless, we know general manager John Lynch went to Stanford and recently watched Ayomanor catch passes. Perhaps Lynch has a soft spot for the wideout and is willing to roll the dice on him.
San Francisco could definitely use another wide receiver, so keep your eyes on Ayomanor as a potential target come April.
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