The 49ers may be able to take a page out of the Cincinnati Bengals’ NFL draft book to help out quarterback Trey Lance next season.
Cincinnati selected wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was teammates with their quarterback Joe Burrow at LSU, in the 2021 draft. The QB and WR carried over their connection from college and Chase posted the greatest rookie season ever by a player at his position. San Francisco could follow a similar path for Lance in the 2022 draft after North Dakota State WR Christian Watson tore up the Senior Bowl.
Watson was a redshirt sophomore in 2019 when Lance became the full-time starting quarterback for the Bison. The 6-foot-4 receiver was a Second-Team All-Conference receiver in Lance’s full year as a starer after leading the team with 34 receptions for 732 yards and six touchdowns.
He only got better from there and finished his career with 105 catches, 2,140 yards and 14 touchdowns on a North Dakota State team that runs the ball more often than it throws.
On top of the receiving prowess he put up 392 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries. Watson was also an excellent kick returner over his final two seasons. He returned 20 kicks and scored two touchdowns while averaging 28.3 yards per return. In the 2020-21 season he was a First-Team All-American as a return man.
All of those are boxes the 49ers would like their wide receivers to check. Not to mention he brings good speed to go with his 6-foot-4, 208-pound frame. Bringing in a receiver Lance is familiar with could help the rookie in his first year though. Watson isn’t going to come in and overtake Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk’s place on the depth chart. He’s also very likely not going to be as good as Chase. But if he can be a player Lance trusts in key spots it would go a long way toward helping the first-year starter navigate some of the pitfalls he’ll inevitably encounter.
The 49ers don’t pick until No. 61 in this year’s draft, but Watson should still be available then. He may even be around in Round 3, but if he continues rising throughout he draft process, San Francisco may not be able to wait that long.
