49ers meet with 2 top WRs at NFL combine

The 49ers’ search for a wide receiver in the NFL draft began early at the combine.

The order of the 49ers’ list of needs in the NFL draft is unclear, but they’ll very likely add a wide receiver in the first couple days for the third year in a row. They’ve already met with a pair of the draft’s top wide receivers at the NFL combine.

LSU’s Justin Jefferson and TCU’s Jaelen Reagor both said in their combine press conferences that the 49ers were among teams they’d met with.

Jefferson was exceptionally productive for the national champion Tigers last season as a junior. He posted 111 catches for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. At 6-1, 202 pounds, he’d bring a combination of size and playmaking ability the 49ers don’t have on their roster going into the offseason.

Reagor is a much different receiver than Jefferson. He’s a touch shorter at 5-11, but weighs in around 206 pounds. He also had a more consistently productive college career. Reagor posted 33 catches for 576 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman for the Horned Frogs. He backed that up with 72 catches, 1,061 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore – all career highs. His junior year was still strong despite a downtick in productivity. He had 43 catches for 611 yards and five touchdowns.

It’ll be interesting to see what type of receiver the 49ers do target in this year’s draft. Jefferson is a good route runner who utilizes his size well, while Reagor is better at stretching the field vertically and making plays after the catch. San Francisco could use either style of playmaker in their offense.

Early meetings don’t necessarily mean the team is targeting either one of Jefferson or Reagor. These meetings are the 49ers’ first chance to get to know the prospects – an important step in the evaluation process, especially for a team that values team culture so highly.