The San Francisco 49ers have a lot of depth at the wide receiver position, but no true No. 1 stars. Heading into the NFL Draft, the 49ers have been linked to wide receivers in the first round including a few trade ups for elite players like Amari Cooper and Kevin White. However, after kicking off voluntary workouts, general manager Trent Baalke feels confident enough in their current roster of receivers that the team will not target someone in the first round.
The 49ers made the wide receiver position an immediate priority when the official offseason began. San Francisco re-signed Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson to add to the rotation after losing Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd. Both Smith and Simpson will join Anquan Boldin, but that is not enough production for the 49ers to completely get by which is why people like NFL Insider Albert Breer has linked the team to first-round wide receivers. Baalke does not believe that is necessary.
"Once again, how many guys can play? How many balls are there?" Baalke said, via ESPN.com. "Torrey's going to be on the field. Anquan's going to be on the field. Simpson looks extremely good ... this early in the process and has been a very solid receiver. His last year in Minnesota, (he had) 40-plus catches, 700-plus yards. Did a very nice job. (Bruce) Ellington's a young guy with a lot of talent and Quinton (Patton), in my estimation, is a young player that hasn't gotten an opportunity. Now's his opportunity. Let's see what he can do. Now, is that to say we're not going to make a pick, look for another wide receiver? I'm not saying that at all. But (I) don't feel like we have to be pressured into making a decision like that."
Baalke likes the idea of giving some of the younger wide receivers a chance to prove themselves rather than bringing in someone like Cooper or Kevin White for help. According to CSNBayArea.com, the 49ers were a target for a deal up to get one of the two receivers, but that appears to no longer be the case for the team. History says the 49ers will in fact draft a receiver. They have every year since 2003, so fans should assume someone in a later round will be selected regardless of what Baalke said.
