The 49ers used the No. 36 overall pick on wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and Samuel turned in one of the great seasons by a rookie pass catcher in 49ers history.
Samuel came up big in the season finale in Seattle with five catches for 102 yards, along with two carries for 33 yards and a touchdown.
His productive final game put him in the pantheon of all-time great rookie seasons by a 49er.
Samuel finished the year with 55 catches, 802 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also posted 14 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
His 55 receptions were the most by a San Francisco rookie since Earl Cooper had 83 in 1980. Samuel’s 802 receiving yards were the second-most by a 49ers rookie behind Jerry Rice in 1985.
His 961 yards from scrimmage are the most ever by a 49ers rookie, and his six total touchdowns were the most by a 49ers’ rookie WR since Dave Parks in 1964.
In a loaded rookie class, Samuel’s versatility has stood out in a San Francisco offense that puts him to work in a slew of roles. Perhaps the most encouraging thing for the 49ers is how Samuel finished. He finished with 35 catches on 49 targets with 579 receiving yards and two touchdowns over the final eight games. That’s a 70-catch, 1,158-yard pace over 16 seasons.
If Samuel puts together his best football in the playoffs, he could help carry San Francisco’s offense to the Super Bowl.