(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers turned heads on night one of the 2024 NFL Draft by taking Ricky Pearsall in the first round.
Many analysts and fans didn’t necessarily tout Pearsall as a first-round talent, so they were surprised when this pick was announced.
Many people assumed that the 49ers would go with a defensive back to add to their secondary, which didn’t end up materializing.
While Pearsall wasn’t widely discussed as a first-round pick heading into the draft, a few people noticed him.
One of those people was Steve Smith Sr., a former NFL wide receiver who is now involved in social media and podcasts.
Smith’s pre-draft comments of Pearsall were shared by reporter Dalton Johnson after the 49ers took him, which are taking social media by storm.
“He’s the go-to guy,” Smith said, adding, “His ability to adjust will be required, his services, in the National Football League.”
Steve Smith Sr. is really, really good at evaluating wide receivers. He’s a big Ricky Pearsall fan pic.twitter.com/CYBcUv9DHu
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) April 26, 2024
Smith evaluated him as an excellent route runner and a player who could make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Pearsall isn’t a big receiver, but that doesn’t seem to matter as much in today’s NFL.
Players like Tyreek Hill and DeVonta Smith have proven that size doesn’t necessarily matter, as long as players are good at running routes and have solid vision, it can go a long way.
Pearsall joins a crowded room of talented skill-position players, including Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey.
Assuming this core four stays together, it will be interesting to see what Pearsall’s role will look like in his rookie campaign.
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