Ravens GM hoped he could have drafted ‘sleeper’ Pearsall from 49ers originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Although Ricky Pearsall is largely projected as a second-round pickthe 49ers saw something in him to use their first-round selection to pick him 31st overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
And they weren’t the only ones who saw the Florida product potential.
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he expected Pearsall to be available to the Ravens “at some point” during the draft. He was surprised when the 49ers secured him in the opening round — one pick after Baltimore selected cornerback Nate Wiggins.
“It was a great choice. I give those guys a lot of credit,” said DeCosta (h/t Niners Nation). “I thought [Pearsall] he was a guy we could get and who at some point would be a sleeper for us. He really wasn’t a hot commodity name. But that was another guy when you watched his game, he’s a super impressive player on tape.”
This feeling was common across the rest of the league, with NFL executives, coaches and players speaking highly of the young receiver.
Houston Texas Quarterback CJ Stroud went viral for his excited reaction to San Francisco’s selection of Pearsall, stating that he “really wanted him” in Houston.
Several others have anticipated Pearsall thriving in 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s system, especially with his unique route-running skills.
“My versatility is going to help me,” Pearsall said on 95.7 The Game’s “Morning Roast” last week. “I think being able to play in different positions and move around will help me, give me different opportunities. And obviously Coach Shanahan likes to get a lot of guys moving on the field, create matchups, create different looks, so I feel like I’m a guy that can do that.”
While several teams may have slept on the 23-year-old coming out of college, he’ll have a chance to prove them wrong — and DeCosta and those who believed in him are right — when he reports for the 49ers’ rookie minicamp on Thursday. -fair.
