49ers Draft Wide Receiver in FanNation Publishers Mock Draft

The 49ers always want to draft a defensive lineman in Round 1, but the best ones already were off the board.

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) makes a / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

This was fun.

All 32 publishers for FanNation came together this week to do a mock draft, and I participated. And when the 49ers were on the clock at pick no. 31, I selected Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, and here's why:

"The best offensive tackles and defensive linemen are off the board," I wrote, "so the 49ers take the best wide receiver available. Jauan Jennings will be a free agent in 2025, plus the 49ers could look to trade Deebo Samuel next year, and there’s no guarantee Brandon Aiyuk will be on the roster when the draft is complete—he could get traded. So wide receiver is a need. And McConkey also runs a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and returns punts."

Here was my thinking: The 49ers always want to draft a defensive lineman in Round 1, but the best ones already were off the board. In addition, offensive line always is a huge need for the 49ers, particularly offensive tackle, but once again, the best ones were gone.

If I could have traded down, I would have, but there were no trades allowed in this mock draft. So I took the best player available at a position of need -- wide receiver. Because there's no guarantee that Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings will be on the team in 2025.

McConkey seems like a wide receiver that Kyle Shanahan would like, because he's a willing blocker and a good route runner, even though he weighs just 185 pounds. But since I made the pick, it probably won't happen, because I'm usually wrong.