49ers add insurance policy with Florida’s Pearsall in first round
1 min readRicky Pearsall has been a record-setter dating back to his days at Corona del Sol High School (Ariz.). While there, he once caught passes for nearly 350 yards in one contest. The San Francisco 49ers picked the high-flying receiver from Florida in the first round (31st overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
One of the unique characteristics surrounding Pearsall’s game is the manipulation he uses as a route-runner. The former Arizona State Sun Devil wins in a multitude of ways. As a slot receiver, his use of hesitation freezes defenders for a split second. Pearsall aligns inside or outside and often re-accelerates in the course of routes to escape man coverage.
His game went to new heights once arriving in Gainesville. In 2023, he set career-highs in receptions (65), receiving yards (965) and 100-yard receiving games (3). The trademark confidence remained in tow, but he added parts to his game. We review some of those in our video breakdown of the San Francisco 49ers 2024 first-round pick.