Will Jacob Cowing be Better than Ricky Pearsall for the 49ers?

Pearsall caught 4 touchdown passes last season. Cowing caught 13. He also had two seasons in which he gained more than 1,000 receiving yards. Pearsall had none.

Sep 24, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Jacob Cowing (2) runs after / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers drafted two wide receivers this year -- Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 and Jacob Cowing in Round 4 -- which bodes well for Cowing and not so well for Pearsall, considering the 49ers draft history.

Almost every time Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch draft two players at the same position, the player drafted later is better.

In 2017, they drafted Joe Williams and signed Matt Breida as an undrafted free agent, and Breida was the much better running back.

In 2018, they drafted wide receivers Dante Pettis and Richie James Jr., and James is better.

In 2021, they drafted running backs Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell, and Mitchell is better.

In 2022, they drafted Ty Davis-Price and signed Jordan Mason as an undrafted free agent, and Mason is the much better running back.

And in 2023, the 49ers drafted tight ends Cam Latu and Brayden Willis, and so far Willis is better.

Which brings us back to Pearsall and Cowing. Pearsall was the first-round pick because he's 6'1" and he performed exceptionally well at the Combine. Cowing did well at the Combine too, but he's 5'8", so he fell to Round 4, even though he was extremely productive in college and Pearsall wasn't.

Pearsall caught 4 touchdown passes last season. Cowing caught 13. He also had two seasons in which he gained more than 1,000 receiving yards. Pearsall had none.

Both Cowing and Pearsall should start their careers in the slot for the 49ers, and both already are 23 years old. It will be fascinating to see which player asserts himself.