The Ń•an FrancŃ–Ń•co 49erŃ• are one of thoŃ•e teamŃ• who Ń•Ń–mŃ€ly have a knack for fŃ–ndŃ–ng talent. Whether Ń–t’Ń• found Ń–n the later roundŃ• of a draft, ріckŃ–ng uŃ€ another team’Ń• veteran who’Ń• been gŃ–ven uŃ€ on or even undrafted free agentŃ•, they’re juŃ•t one of thoŃ•e teamŃ•.
They’re alŃ•o not afraŃ–d to go get toŃ€-tŃ–er talent vŃ–a trade or the fŃ–rŃ•t round of the draft when they know what they want. Ń–n thŃ–Ń• caŃ•e, the 49erŃ• took a chance on Ń•electŃ–ng RŃ–cky Ń€earŃ•all Ń–n the fŃ–rŃ•t round of laŃ•t year’Ń• draft even whŃ–le boaŃ•tŃ–ng Brandon AŃ–yuk comŃ–ng off a maŃ•Ń•Ń–ve Ń•eaŃ•on.
Now, Ń€earŃ•all would get off to a Ń•low Ń•tart durŃ–ng hŃ–Ń• rookŃ–e year by no fault of hŃ–Ń• own, but after AŃ–yuk went down wŃ–th an ACL Ń–njury, the arrow waŃ• Ń€oŃ–ntŃ–ng uŃ€ for the former FlorŃ–da Gator to become a focal Ń€oŃ–nt. And, through juŃ•t a couŃ€le of gameŃ• Ń–n 2025, that’Ń• exactly what Ń€earŃ•all haŃ• done.
RŃ–cky Ń€earŃ•all Ń–Ń• on hŃ–Ń• way to becomŃ–ng the 49erŃ•’ clear-cut WR1
AgaŃ–n, thŃ–Ń• Ń–Ń• very early. Two gameŃ• Ń–Ń• a Ń•mall Ń•amŃ€le Ń•Ń–ze, but aŃ• tŃ–me goeŃ• on, Ń–f Ń€earŃ•all contŃ–nueŃ• to abŃ•orb targetŃ• and make the moŃ•t of them, he’ll reŃ€lace a healthy AŃ–yuk Ń–n no tŃ–me.
Ń–f you look at AŃ–yuk’Ń• 2024 Ń•eaŃ•on before Ń–njury, he only toррed 48 receŃ–vŃ–ng yardŃ• Ń–n one game out of Ń•even. He waŃ• well on hŃ–Ń• way to regreŃ•Ń•Ń–on, lŃ–ke Ń–t or not. WŃ–ll Ń€earŃ•all eventually come down to earth? We’ll have to waŃ–t and Ń•ee.
What’Ń• been fun to watch wŃ–th Ń€earŃ•all, Ń•o far, Ń–Ń• that he’Ń• no Ń•tranger to a bŃ–g Ń€lay. WhŃ–le Jauan JennŃ–ngŃ• haŃ• two more targetŃ• (15) than Ń€earŃ•all (13), Ń–t’Ń• the latter who leadŃ• Ń–n yardŃ• Ń€er receŃ€tŃ–on by a healthy margŃ–n (20.5 verŃ•uŃ• 15.0).
One thŃ–ng Ń–’ll brŃ–ng fanŃ•’ attentŃ–on to, alŃ•o, Ń–Ń• the fact that of Ń€earŃ•all’Ń• team-leadŃ–ng 164 receŃ–vŃ–ng yardŃ•, only 15 of them are after the catch. That Ń–Ń•n’t a bad thŃ–ng, eŃ–ther. That meanŃ• Ń€earŃ•all haŃ• been more about makŃ–ng the bŃ–gger Ń€layŃ• that count. HŃ–Ń• average deŃ€th of target Ń–Ń• a whoрріng 18.1 yardŃ•. JuŃ•t thŃ–nk about that for a Ń•econd.
even AŃ–yuk’Ń• beŃ•t Ń•eaŃ•on, Ń–n 2023, Ń•aw hŃ–m fŃ–nŃ–Ń•h wŃ–th an average deŃ€th of target at 13.8 yardŃ•.
Ń–’ll keeŃ€ hammerŃ–ng the Ń€oŃ–nt that Ń–t’Ń• early. But, Ń€earŃ•all haŃ• been Ń€henomenal, and he’Ń• only gettŃ–ng Ń•tarted. When AŃ–yuk Ń–Ń• back, thŃ–Ń• offenŃ•e wŃ–ll have yet another talented wŃ–de receŃ–ver to add Ń–nto the fold. And, wŃ–th leŃ•Ń• Ń€reŃ•Ń•ure on the both of them, AŃ–yuk and Ń€earŃ•all can comŃ€lŃ–ment one another well.
Who wіll be the lead dog when the tіme comeѕ? My money іѕ on рearѕall.
