San Francisco 49ers should draft Josh Doctson

Anquan Boldin is poised to hit free agency, and while he was the San Francisco 49ers best wide receiver in each of the past two seasons and an immensely reliable part of the offense, it’s time for the team to go younger. The dream option to replace Boldin? None other than TCU product Josh Doctson.

I think the San Francisco 49ers are dynamic, big ‘”X” receiver away from having an excellent group of pass-catchers, since they need someone with a little more speed and athleticism on the outside to help unleash Torrey Smith. Chip Kelly should have plenty of fun using Smith’s exceptional explosiveness vertically and after the catch, as he was criminally underused by the previous “coaching staff”. Even though he wasn’t used much, Smith showed signs of brilliance in the first year of his big contract, and he could pay off for the 49ers in 2016 if he isn’t handicapped by, say, Blaine Gabbert at quarterback.

Even if Gabbert constrains Smith’s playmaking, the 49ers offense could still have extra playmaking juice provided by a wide receiver if they are able to get their hands on Josh Doctson. He showed off his long speed by running a 4.50 forty at the Combine, he looked stronger than many expected at the weigh-in, and he has the natural fluidity to gain easy separation vertically. And when he doesn’t get sufficient separation, he can still win by attacking the ball in the air; he’s better at the catch point than any receiver prospect since Mike Evans.

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Most 49ers fans would like to see the team draft Doctson in the first round after snagging a quarterback like Jared Goff or an elite difference-maker on defense like DeForest Buckner, and I don’t blame them. I mean, that’s a dream draft if I ever saw one, right?

The problem is that if the 49ers really want Doctson, they won’t be able to get him in the second round. Before the Combine, there were only three concerns about Doctson’s game.

He won’t be strong enough to beat press coverage, because he’s too lanky
He isn’t quick enough to win on short and intermediate routes.
He struggles after the catch.

Only the third one hasn’t been proven false yet, because Doctson largely debunked the first two concerns. His college tape alone should have been sufficient enough to quell the first two concerns, but lingering doubts remained, largely because of the style of play of the TCU offense. By shining in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, Doctson showed that, yes, he has more than enough quickness to win in shorter areas despite his size, making him a well-rounded, No. 1-type receiver.

No player on offense, save for the blazing Keith Marshall, “won” the Combine more than Doctson, and his vertical and broad jumps were as stellar as you would expect from a guy who regularly made circus catches look routine in college.

This is the type of player the 49ers need to add to their offense, and I think he’s such a dominant prospect that he’s worth a top-ten pick. Laquon Treadwell is another first-round wide receiver worthy of high praise, but Doctson’s immaculate Combine has allowed him to leapfrog Treadwell. Both players had impressive tape, but Doctson has the higher ceiling due to his even larger catch radius and ostensibly superior tools.

I wouldn’t blame 49ers fans for being leery of drafting a wide receiver with the seventh overall pick, because a player like Buckner or Goff could have an even bigger impact on the team. But if Goff, Buckner, and Carson Wentz are already off the board at No. 7, I find it hard to see the Niners passing up on Doctson.

Oct 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) makes a catch in front of Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) in the fourth quarter at Levi /

Not only is he the best wide receiver in this class, even if there are others worth praising, but he’s the perfect fit for this offense. The 49ers need someone who can match nuanced route-running with size and speed, and Doctson’s excellent agility testing at the Combine should seal the deal.

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Taking Doctson in the second round would be the perfect scenario for the 49ers, but that simply isn’t happening after he obliterated the Combine. If the 49ers want him, they should take him with the seventh pick, and he’s worth it. If they think that’s too rich for a wide receiver, then they should hope Michael Thomas falls to them in the second, since he would also be a strong match.