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The San Francisco 49ers had quite the draft class in 2024, as several of their rookies were called upon to produce early on due to injuries, which was a difference from past draft classes for the franchise.
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After striking out on much of their 2022 and 2023 draft classes, the 49ers struck paydirt in the 2024 cycle, as six players carved out roles, with four even starting a handful of games last season.
At the top of the list is first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, who was one of the more shocking first-round selections last year, given San Francisco’s talent at wide receiver. Things weren’t easy for Pearsall early, as he dealt with injuries in the offseason before getting shot in a robbery attempt prior to the season.
But, the first-round pick fought to return quickly, playing in 11 games last season, catching 31 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
Pearsall was an early-impact player upon returning from his injuries, as he quickly caught up to speed, going for over 70 all-purpose yards in his second and third NFL games. It was there when his connection with quarterback Brock Purdy really started to grow, showing glimpses of the potential that San Francisco saw when taking him in the first round.
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“This dude went through so much adversity early on, but anytime he was out in the field with us at practice, he’d come up to me and just wouldn’t shut up,” Purdy said about Pearsall during a recent appearance on the Built 4 More podcast. “‘Brock, dude, I’m going to take this many steps here, break out. You can trust me on the side.’ I love that.”
“For me, in the heat of the moment, I need a guy I can trust, and this guy wants to get on the same page with me. So after practice, he’s running routes, I’m throwing to him. And then in the game, boom. We’re hitting on third down and converting. That’s what it takes, time and time again.”
After a cold stretch, where he had just 58 receiving yards over a six-game stretch, Pearsall began to break out at the end of the season, going for eight catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Then, he finished the season with a six-catch, 69-yard, and one touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals, wrapping up the year on a high note.
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Pearsall should have a bigger role in 2025, as he steps into a full-time starting role alongside Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. That role should especially expand over the first few weeks of the season when the 49ers will likely be without Aiyuk as he recovers from his injuries.
There’s definitely still room to grow for the 2024 first-round pick, but his work ethic has been documented several times, especially when he was recovering from injuries. And his teammates are taking note. That could start to pay off even more this season, where Pearsall has a prime opportunity for a breakout season.
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