Jeremiah sees 49ers selecting speedy receiver at No. 31 in final mock originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his fourth and final mock draft less than 24 hours before Thursday’s draft, and it’s safe to say he predicts a big change in the 49ers’ wide receiver room.
This time, Jeremiah has Saint Francis using the #31 overall pick on Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy. He had the 49ers beat Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson in his previous mocks.
“This is my favorite offense in the first round,” Jeremiah said of Worthy and the 49ers. “We saw what Tank Dell did in a similar offensive system with Houston and we know what Mike McDaniel was able to build with so much speed as a receiver in Miami. Worthy gives Kyle Shanahan a similar weapon.”
Worthy, frankly, embodies the phrase “quick deaths.” The 20-year-old set a new NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash record with a time of 4.21 seconds on March 2.
Worthy finished his 39-game Longhorn career with 197 receptions for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns, and is a force in the open field.
Certainly, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy would love another weapon. But it’s hard not to imagine that the selection will possibly mark the end of Brandon Aiyuk’s tenure with the 49ers.
Considering Aiyuk has not yet received the contract extension he wants from the 49ers, the parties may find a solution trading partner on draft night to avoid taking his dilemma to training camp.
However, Worthy would be an exciting addition to the 49ers’ already stacked offense featuring Pro Bowl selections Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Kyle Juszczyk, Purdy and possibly Aiyuk.
If Jeremiah is correct, the 49ers would select a wideout in the first round for the first time since 2020, when they took Aiyuk, of course, from Arizona State.
