The 49ers need at offensive tackle will continue to linger into the 2025 draft after it went unaddressed with their 2024 selections. How big that need is will depend on a couple of factors like Trent Williams’ desire to continue playing and Colton McKivitz’s development. Chances are OT will continue to sit atop San Francisco’s list of needs in next year’s draft, but it won’t be the only position they’ll need to address.
Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus identified Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson as an offensive prospect the 49ers should have their eye on during the 2024 college football season.
Ferguson is entering his senior season with the Ducks coming off three productive seasons for them. The 6-6, 255-pound behemoth has hauled in 91 receptions for 946 yards and 13 touchdowns in 41 college games. His production has also gone up in each of his three seasons. The former basketball player could fill a handful of roles in the 49ers’ offense depending on how their roster shakes out next offseason. Via PFF:
Out of fairness to the rest of the NFL, perhaps we shouldn’t give yet another offensive playmaker to the 49ers.
They could look at wide receiver if Brandon Aiyuk is no longer there in 2025, but they did just draft Ricky Pearsall. One player they should keep an eye on is Terrance Ferguson from Oregon, an excellent potential depth piece behind George Kittle.
Ferguson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds and was a former four-star tight end recruit who also played basketball in high school. He separates well as a receiver (73rd percentile versus single coverage) for a player of his size.
It’s not out of the question that San Francisco could aim for a TE relatively early in next year’s draft. Kittle turns 31 this year and it would behoove the 49ers to start planning for life without him. Even if he’s going to be around for the foreseeable future, however, adding another would still make sense for depth and offensive flexibility.
Even if they do need a tackle we saw this year that they won’t force the pick if they like a playmaker in their draft slot instead.
We’ll keep a close eye on Ferguson this year. He and the Ducks open their schedule at home on Aug. 31 against Idaho.
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