NFL Draft 2019: 49ers believe they drafted two most physical receivers

Share

49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan wrapped up the second day of the draft pleased with their selection of two wide receivers -- Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd -- who have something in common with San Francisco's first-round selection Nick Bosa. 

“I think a common theme in this draft for us is a guy that combines speed and power and versatility,” Lynch said in his second-day draft press conference.

Shanahan agreed in his evaluation of the two receivers, noting their physicality and versatility. 

“What separated Deebo and Jalen, we felt that they were the most physical players out of all the receivers in the draft,” Shanahan said. “You don’t want to draft receivers just because they are physical, but when you can have the speed in 40 that Deebo does, with his hands and the route-running ability and that physicality. 

“When you have Jalen's size, his physicality and the ability to move to some different positions. We did want to get some more physical players on the offense this year and adding those two guys, especially at the receiver position, when you can add two physical guys that are at a position, that's not always required to be physical, I think it can make your offense a lot more physical.”

Lynch also spoke to Samuel’s toughness, which the 49ers' brass got acquainted with at the Senior Bowl. 

“You just turn this guy's game tape on and you see, I think, one of the elite competitors in college football this year that I saw,” Lynch said. "This guy, you're going to have to fight him and he's going to fight for yards. I think that type of play, we've talked about it before, is contagious. He's got real juice. He can catch the ball and break away.”

[RELATED: Watch moment Deebo Samuel learned he was going to 49ers]

Hurd, who has played wide receiver as well as running back, brings versatility that already has Shanahan’s mind calculating ways to utilize him. Shanahan believes he could have been drafted at either of those two positions, or even as a tight end. 

“He can do about everything,” Shanahan said. “We plan on him coming in and being a receiver and working him with that group, but I don’t think that’s where it stops. We will see where his body ends up being here over the years and while he does it, we hope we can give him a few carries here and there.”  

Shanahan who is already known for disguising his offense in different formations explained how Hurd could surprise a defense. 

“It's pretty neat when you have a guy who demands nickel defense on the field because he can beat a linebacker in coverages, but has the ability to go back and take a handoff here and there,” Shanahan said. “It’s kind of neat when you can be in 11-personnel on third down (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR), and if you want, you can be in 21-personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR). It just depends on how you want to line up and what the guys are capable of doing.”

Contact Us