When healthy, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has shown flashes of being a potential superstar.
Unfortunately, "when healthy" has been all too key a focal point.
The Niners' top pick from the 2024 NFL Draft has only appeared in 20 regular-season games to date, and the injuries certainly haven't been his fault. A gunshot wound during an attempted robbery on the eve of his rookie-year campaign derailed the opening phases of his first year, while knee issues limited the receiver to only nine games.
Yet Pearsall managed 528 yards during his sophomore season. Extrapolated over a 17-game stretch, that'd equate to nearly a 1,000-yard effort—respectable for a player of his draft stock.
With a revamped wide receiver room, however, San Francisco might soon lose patience with Pearsall if he doesn't fully capitalize on his opportunities this upcoming season.
And it might lead to a crucial decision once 2026 is in the books.
49ers are facing a Ricky Pearsall decision they must take seriously
The 49ers welcomed in veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk to bolster their receiving corps this offseason, then used their top pick in last April's draft to grab the speedy De'Zhaun Stribling.
These moves aren't necessarily bad for Pearsall's stock value. If anything, he'll be less of a focus for opposing defenses, which could translate into more opportunities in the receiving game.
However, a failure to deliver on that premise could be problematic, as Bleacher Report's Moe Moton explained:
Following the 2026 season, the San Francisco 49ers must decide on the fifth-year option in Ricky Pearsall's contract. At this point, they would probably decline it because of his modest production and spotty availability last season.
In 2025, Pearsall caught 36 passes for 528 scoreless yards. Even without Brandon Aiyuk for an entire season, the 2024 first-rounder didn't take full advantage of increased opportunities in the aerial attack, partially due to injuries.
As Moton called out, the Niners have to decide whether or not a fully guaranteed fifth-year option should be in play for Pearsall once 2026 is wrapped up. Granted, even if they decline it, an extension could ultimately happen. But San Francisco would likely postpone that choice, too, given the underwhelming numbers the receiver has put up over his first two seasons.
Should he stay healthy in 2026 and take full advantage of the attention given to Evans and others, perhaps the 49ers happily reward Pearsall with an extension, or at the very least, decide to pick up that fifth-year option.
If that decision had to be made now, though, Moton is probably right in suggesting it'd be declined.
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