49ers get 25th pick from Vikings, select Aiyuk
The San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk out of Arizona State in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 25th overall, after trading up with the Minnesota Vikings.
San Francisco traded the 31st, 117th, and 176th overall picks to move up six spots, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Aiyuk broke out last season with 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns through the air for the Sun Devils.
Earlier, the 49ers used their No. 14 pick on defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw after trading down one spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. San Francisco had obtained that 13th overall pick in March by trading DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts.
Prospect Profile
School: Arizona State
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 lbs
Positives
- Explosive athleticism
- Good size, frame, and catch radius
- Legitimate weapon after the catch - has the burst, balance, strength, and field vision to succeed in the open field
- Crisp route-runner with deliberate cuts and very flexible lower body
- Feasts on off-coverage with a great burst off the line of scrimmage and quick feet
- Good body control and ball-tracking on deep targets
- Successful kick/punt returner
Negatives
- Only one year of solid college production
- Struggles on release against press coverage
- Disappointing results on contested catches and 50/50 targets
- Separates early in route better than he does late
Bottom Line
In an ordinary receiver class, Aiyuk would be much higher on our rankings with the upside of being selected inside the top 25. In this historic group, his raw tools and question marks could slide him into Day 2. While there are parts of his game that certainly need to be polished, the Arizona State product offers an athletic profile that can't be taught. He has a knack for creating big plays and can make an instant impact in the NFL with the ball in his hands. Aiyuk's speed, vision, and burst make him a high-upside prospect who could outperform a few wideouts chosen before him and make teams regret not taking a chance.