Was Ricky Pearsall the Right Pick for the 49ers in Round 1?

Pearsall is the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart and the primary punt returner. He's this year's Ray Ray McCloud.

Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a one-handed catch for a first down during the / Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun / USA

The 49ers probably would have won a Super Bowl by now if they hadn't wasted three first-round picks on Trey Lance.

This year, they drafted in the first round for the first time since they picked Lance and made him sit on the bench for a year before ultimately trading him after four starts. This time, the 49ers had an opportunity to undo the Lance mistake and draft the best player available, someone who could make the team better right away.

Instead, they reached for a player they don't need this year -- wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. He might be good for them down the road, but he won't play much in 2024 unless Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings get injured. Pearsall is the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart and the primary punt returner. He's this year's Ray Ray McCloud.

Taking Pearsall in Round 1 was a mistake for a few reasons.

1. The 49ers had bigger needs.

2. Teams can find good wide receivers in Rounds 2, 3 and 4.

3. He wasn't the best player available and he doesn't make the team better now.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs, who are objectively better than the 49ers, traded up in Round 1 for wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who will make them better immediately.

Instead of drafting Pearsall, the 49ers should have drafted a cornerback, either Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Kamari Lassiter or Max Melton. Those four all got picked early in Round 2. I would have taken DeJean because he can play nickel and safety as well as cornerback plus he's an outstanding punt returner. The 49ers could have started him at corner and then moved him to nickel or safety if he struggled. Instead, the Eagles traded up for him, and now Vic Fangio gets to coach him.

Melton also would have been a good pick. He's 5'11" and he runs a 4.37. The Cardinals took him, and now the 49ers have to face him twice a season.

We'll see if Pearsall has a better career than those corners.