49ers draft Deebo Samuel, give Garoppolo another weapon

The San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver Deebo Samuel out of South Carolina in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 36th overall.

Samuel will join a receiving corps headlined by Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis, and Jordan Matthews. It's a solid group but none are proven threats, and the 49ers needed to upgrade the unit to help ease Jimmy Garoppolo's return from his season-ending knee injury.

The former South Carolina standout's versatility and refined skill set should be perfect for head coach Kyle Shanahan's scheme, which excels at allowing receivers to maximize yards after the catch.

Prospect profile

School: South Carolina
Height: 5-11
Weight: 214 lbs

Strengths

• Versatile offensive weapon who can beat defenses in many ways
• Elusive playmaker with the ball in his hands
• Defenses must scheme against him in red zone
• Quick and smooth route runner
• Explosive and gets to top gear quickly
• Short-area quickness helps him avoid jams at line of scrimmage
• Not biggest receiver but his physicality is off charts
• Excellent release versus press coverage

Weaknesses

• Battled injuries in college
• Not an experienced or productive deep threat
• Likely not built for No. 1 receiver role
• Doesn't win many contested catches

Bottom line

Samuel is a pro-ready NFL weapon that fits perfectly in the modern game. He's a space player with incredible versatility and proficient separation skills. When Samuel was healthy in college, few defensive backs could stop him. The All-American thrives in many important phases of the game. He may not possess elite size, deep speed, or jump-ball prowess, but he can be an excellent No. 2 receiver if offenses correctly scheme the ball into his hands.