The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft has officially concluded, and it was filled with significant drama and chaos.
There were several unexpected selections and trades throughout the night, which made for an exciting evening for fans.
One of the most surprising picks was by the San Francisco 49ers at pick 31, who swung for the fences and drafted former Florida wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall.
Many analysts projected the 49ers to go with a defensive player here, but because they pivoted to the receiver position, this might indicate the team’s next move.
According to reporter Michael Silver, the 49ers could trade one of their top receivers.
Brandon Aiyuk’s name has been brought up a lot in trade talks recently, but, as Silver indicated, Deebo Samuel might be the one headed out the door.
Based on my conversations with other teams, the 49ers are now more likely to deal Deebo Samuel than they are Brandon Aiyuk. Stay tuned.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 26, 2024
Samuel has been an exceptional player for the 49ers throughout his career with the team, but there have been rumors in recent seasons that he hasn’t been happy with the team.
There were reports of Samuel’s frustration with being used out of the backfield more than he’d like, as he believes his role should be as a wide receiver, not as a back.
With this in mind, he could be harboring a lot of pent-up frustrations with his current team, and he might be ready to move on.
The 49ers might have sensed this, which could be a reason for them drafting Pearsall.
Even if they don’t move Samuel, having yet another offensive skill-position player in this offense can’t be a bad thing, and Pearsall did show a lot of prowess at Florida.
NEXT: Report: 49ers Could Trade Star WR In Draft
