San Francisco 49ers select Brandon Aiyuk in 2020 NFL Draft: Grading the pick

The San Francisco 49ers traded up in the first round to address their wide receiver need with Brandon Aiyuk at the No. 25 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers addressed their offense with their second of two first-round picks when they drafted Brandon Aiyuk out of Arizona State. Aiyuk is a good fit for head coach and offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan. He could help to provide matchup problems for defenses when lined up with Deebo Samuel on the edge.

On the surface, this is a good pick at No. 25 in the draft, even after trading up. Aiyuk is similar to receivers Shanahan has had success with due to his ability to make plays after the catch. A former junior college transfer, Aiyuk excelled in his senior year for Arizona State.

He posted 65 catches for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. He is explosive with the ball in his hands and has shown the ability to make plays in the return game. Although only 6-0, he has a massive 81-inch wingspan which helps him offer a large catch radius.

Aiyuk will be a good fit in the 49ers offense as Shanahan is a master of getting players space to make plays. His big-play ability after the catch is something Shanahan is already trying to figure out how to maximize.

His ability with the ball in his hands is similar to the team’s second-year receiver Deebo Samuel and the two could pair together nicely with George Kittle attracting attention over the middle.

However, Aiyuk is still considered to be raw in his route-running and it will take someone like Shanahan to consistently help him get the ball in areas of strength. While not slow, he also does not possess blazing speed and may have trouble getting himself open against pro cornerbacks. He does not play physically and is sure to struggle initially against press coverage.

Overall, I’m just not sure Aiyuk was worth trading up from No. 31 and surrendering two additional draft picks just to draft him. One of the picks they had just acquired earlier in the evening with a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This didn’t feel like the best way to use assets. As things unfolded, the 49ers may have been able to stay at No. 31 and still draft Aiyuk. Without a second-round pick, I can see why they may not have wanted to take any chances and moved up to get the guy they liked.