Will the San Francisco 49ers regret not drafting a wide receiver?

The San Franciso 49ers acquired several offensive assets In the 2021 NFL Draft but they may regret passing on a wide receiver.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch may regret passing on a wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 49ers may be led by an offensive guru in Kyle Shanahan but missing a true slot receiver may haunt him and the team this season.

Lynch and the Niners selected three offensive players in a row to begin their 2021 draft, starting with quarterback Trey Lance but also including a running back and working on the offensive line to help establish a new identity in the trenches. That should be commended.

However, the list of options at slot wide receiver that San Francisco currently has is embarrassing. In fact, Mohamed Sanu is the most productive wide receiver on the list over the last three seasons in the NFL. And he even joined the 49ers last season but was then was cut after three games.

Being thin in talent at wide receiver, the San Francisco 49ers may regret ignoring the position during the draft.

For San Francisco to improve their third-down offense they will need a sufficient slot receiver. Shanahan should look to use Richie James as WR3 but James has to prove his consistency. Be that as it may, the Niners could’ve gotten a more dynamic wide receiver with a higher ceiling in the draft.

In the event that Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel were to get hurt, San Francisco would be in deep trouble at wide receiver, furthering any potential draft regrets. Only adding to that concern, five receivers have already been hobbled in OTAs.

If there is a dark horse on the roster currently who could step up in 2021 as a slot receiver, it’s Austin Watkins Jr., an undrafted free agent signing from this year. He’ll need to impress in minicamps and offseason workouts but, with the shortage of wide receivers, him stepping up could have a huge impact on the 49ers offense.

All told, John Lynch may have undervalued the departure of Kendrick Bourne. Although this may be true, San Francisco has some intriguing players that could shock and step up in bigger roles. Shanahan needs a competent receiver to play in the slot. After passing on options in the draft, they must find a solution either on the roster or through other avenues, though the options may be slim there.