The 2024 NFL draft is looming, and there’s buzz that the San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to make a significant move for a wide receiver. While they already have Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, Aiyuk’s future with the team is uncertain, and Samuel’s is somewhat more stable.
According to Kyle Posey, an analyst at Niners Nation, the team is expected to trade up to the 21st pick to secure Texas prospect Adonai Mitchell. Posey stated, “After seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers grab LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., we realized the importance of acting fast to beat other teams in need of wide receivers… Our focus in this draft is to support our quarterback, and the best way to do that is by providing him with weapons. While we have Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel, it’s unlikely both will be here after the 2024 season. I’m thinking long-term. Brandon Aiyuk and Adonai Mitchell will give [Brock] Purdy two top-tier wideouts for the foreseeable future,” Posey wrote on April 18.
It’s a logical move, though the 49ers will have to pay a hefty price to move up. In this scenario, they’re giving up three picks (their 2024 5th and 7th round picks, and their 2025 3rd round pick) to the Miami Dolphins.
Adonai Mitchell Bringing Big-Play Potential to NFL
Mitchell initially began his college career at Georgia, where he remained relatively unnoticed for two seasons despite winning two CFP National Championships. During this time, he only managed to accumulate 560 receiving yards across 21 games.
However, when Mitchell transferred to Texas before the 2023 season, he found a new opportunity to showcase his talents. Although his receiving yardage increased to 845 yards, what really stood out were his 11 touchdowns and an impressive average of 15.4 yards per reception, according to Sports Reference.
But what makes Mitchell such a highly-regarded prospect isn’t just his stats; it’s his physical attributes. Standing at 6’4″ and running a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Mitchell possesses a rare combination of size and speed. Despite this, he’s considered somewhat raw, as pointed out by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
Zierlein described Mitchell as an “ascending prospect with size, speed, and ball skills that could make him a very good NFL receiver,” but noted that he’s still in the process of refining his abilities. Mitchell has the ability to beat press coverage and take on defenders downfield, but he’s still learning how to dominate in tight spaces and win jump-ball situations.
NFL Insider Speaks on 49ers WR Rumors
Speculation about Brandon Aiyuk’s future has been ongoing, with various rumors and reports creating conflicting narratives. The latest update regarding a potential trade for Aiyuk came from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Florio addressed rumors suggesting that the Pittsburgh Steelers were aggressively pursuing Aiyuk, stating, “The notion that Aiyuk had requested a trade is not accurate… The notion that the Steelers had been the most aggressive is not accurate. My understanding is there was maybe a phone call weeks ago and the response was, ‘We’re not trading the guy.’ And that was that.”
This clarification is reassuring for 49ers fans, especially considering Aiyuk’s impressive performance in his latest season. However, whether or not the 49ers will offer him a contract extension remains uncertain.
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