In less than a week, the San Francisco 49ers are expected to make a significant play for a wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are two of San Francisco’s best-known players, albeit Aiyuk’s future is less clear while Samuel’s is marginally more secure.
In response, Niners Nation analyst Kyle Posey projects that the 49ers will select Texas prospect Adonai Mitchell with the 21st overall pick.
“We realized we needed to go ahead of other clubs that would be in need of wide receivers after witnessing the Pittsburgh Steelers sign LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Making ensuring our quarterback has weapons is the best approach to build around him in this draft. Although Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel are still active, it seems unlikely that they will still be with the team after the 2024 campaign. I’m trying to think broadly. Posey noted on April 18 that “[Brock] Purdy has two excellent wideouts for the foreseeable future in Brandon Aiyuk and Adonai Mitchell.”
Though the 49ers would have to pay a heavy price to advance, it makes perfect sense. Three draft selections (2024 fifth round pick, 2024 seventh round pick, and 2025 third round pick) are forfeited by San Francisco to the Miami Dolphins in this scenario.
Adonai Mitchell Providing the NFL with Big-Play Potential
Mitchell attended Georgia for his first two seasons of college, although he remained largely unknown there. Mitchell had won two CFP National Championships when he switched before the 2023 season, although he had only accumulated 560 receiving yards in 21 games.
Mitchell had a fresh start after moving to Texas, and it’s safe to say he took full advantage of it. Mitchell averaged 15.4 yards per reception and scored 11 touchdowns while having just 845 receiving yards, according to Sports Reference.
But it’s not just his résumé that makes Mitchell a highly sought-after prospect; it’s also his character. At the NFL combine, he clocked a 4.34 40-yard dash, which is quite impressive for someone his size (6’4″). However, as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes, he is still a rather raw prospect.
Zierlein described the potential as a “ascending prospect with size, speed, and ball skills to become a very good NFL receiver.” However, he is still working on bridging such characteristics. Mitchell is still learning how to bully the catch space in close quarters and jump-ball battles, but he can beat press and has the speed to extend the fight to the third level.
NFL Insider Discusses 49ers Wide Receiver Rumors
Regarding Brandon Aiyuk’s future, there has been nonstop conjecture, mixed reports and rumors. The most recent information on a possible Aiyuk deal comes from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The reporter refuted the notion that Aiyuk is being pursued by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It is untrue to say that Aiyuk asked for a trade,” Florio stated on April 18 on 93.7 The Fan. It’s untrue to say that the Steelers were the most aggressive team. As far as I can tell, a few weeks back there was a phone conversation, and the reply was, “We’re not trading the guy.” And that was all.
For 49ers supporters, this is welcome news as Aiyuk just finished his greatest season to date. It is unclear, though, if the 49ers will offer the receiver a contract extension.
Leave a Reply