Tag: Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk posts photo wearing 49ers gear at 4 years old

49ers draft pick Brandon Aiyuk was born into a 49ers family.

Perhaps the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk were meant for each other. The last time the team picked a wide receiver in the first round that went on to make the Pro Bowl was Jerry Rice in 1985 – 13 years before Aiyuk was born. He was born into some 49ers fandom though.

He told reporters in his post-draft video chat with 49ers reporters that his mom is a lifetime 49ers fan. After getting picked, Aiyuk posted a photo of himself at four-years old wearing a 49ers turtleneck.

The 49ers have struggled to find quality wide receivers essentially Aiyuk’s entire life. The only receiver they’ve drafted in the first round since he was born in 1998 was Michael Crabtree. He did it once and that was over a decade ago.

San Francisco traded up to take Aiyuk No. 25 overall after his two very productive years at Arizona State. Perhaps his long time connection to the team is a sign the curse of the 49ers’ first-round receiver is about to end.

49ers’ huge bet on Brandon Aiyuk brings grade down

The 49ers took a massive gamble to move up and take ASU WR Brandon Aiyuk.

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The 49ers gambled big time when they traded three picks to the Minnesota Vikings to move up six spots in the first round to No. 25 to draft Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Without the trade, San Francisco probably gets a better grade, but the risk to get the former Sun Devil was extremely high, so the selection gets a B- grade.

Aiyuk on paper makes a ton of sense for the 49ers. He’s a monster after the catch, plays faster than his 4.5 40-yard dash, and stretches the field vertically better than any receiver on the 49ers’ roster. Pairing him with Deebo Samuel and San Francisco’s other weapons will make life difficult for opposing defenses.

However, the move up to 25 in the first round cost San Francisco pick Nos. 31, 117 and 176. That leaves them with three picks in this year’s draft – one each in the final three rounds.

The 49ers effectively mortgaged their 2020 draft to take Aiyuk. That’s a tall price to pay for a receiver in a class as deep as this one. Aiyuk needs to turn in a monster rookie season and develop into a Pro-Bowl caliber wideout. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but it’s undoubtedly a massive risk.

If it works out, the 49ers offense will be very difficult to stop. If it doesn’t, it could be a pretty significant long-term setback.

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Jalen Reagor provides an instant upgrade at WR for the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles held on to the 21st pick in the draft and selected an electric playmaker from TCU; an instant upgrade

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If we told you that Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy, and CeeDee Lamb would be off the board before the Eagles selected at pick 21 you would not have been shocked.

That scenario ended up being the reality as Lamb, arguably the best receiver in the draft, found himself in a free-fall until the Cowboys drafted him at 17th overall. Jerry Jones, effectively
mocked the Eagles, scooping up the explosive wideout – while leaving Eagles fans with their collective jaws on the floor.

Jim Schwartz and company will have to deal with Lamb twice a season for years to come, but that’s a topic for another day.

On the topic of Reagor, we’re asking you, our readers and fellow Eagles fans is to put this thought out of your mind. Does it hurt that a top-three wide receiver was theoretically in reach but Howie Roseman chose not to make a deal? Yes.

Reagor stands 5 feet, eleven inches tall, and ran a 4.47 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine, which shocked scouts and executives around the league; it hardly matches his tape. With all of the effects of COVID-19 players couldn’t have official pro days, but some players were able to have “virtual” pro days.

Reagor reportedly clocked a 4.28 at his.

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Use this information how you will – is Reagor closer to a 4.28 guy or a 4.47 guy? We think he’s somewhere in between.

Reagor’s connection to the franchise runs deep, his father Montae, played defensive tackle for the Eagles in 2007 and was a coaching intern for the team in 2011. New wide receiver’s coach Aaron Moorehead played with Montae with the Colts which gave him an inside track

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The downfall to Reagor’s collegiate game was erratic quarterback play, a limited route tree, and occasional drops. Some call him the second-coming of Nelson Agholor, make the jokes as you wish.

All kidding aside would you take these numbers, on average, from Reagor: 62 catches for 768 yard and 8 touchdowns, while providing a spark in the punt and kick return game? The answer is yes if the stats for Agholor’s 2017 season were the baseline for Jalen Reagor’s game I’d be pleased. No one was clamoring for a receiver during the Eagles’ Super Bowl season and Reagor can – and should – easily fill Agholor’s shoes.

As it stands now Reagor will serve a prominent role in the Eagles offense with DeSean Jackson recovering from a core muscle surgery, Alshon Jeffery starting the season on the bench recovering from a Lisfranc injury paired with and unproven JJ Arcega-Whiteside and up-and-coming Greg Ward, the opportunity will be there for him.

Reagor needs to make the most of it.

He has the tools to be a difference-maker both in the slot and on the outside in addition to special teams as a return man; his ceiling is as high as they come and I can’t fault Howie for swinging for the fences with the 21st pick.

I really like this pick for the Birds and I can’t wait to see how Doug Pederson implements him into the offense.

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Why did 49ers draft ASU WR Brandon Aiyuk?

The 49ers filled their need at wide receiver with a do-everything prospect from Arizona State.

Brandon Aiyuk wasn’t at the top of the list of the 2020 NFL draft wide receiver class, but he may just be the perfect fit for a 49ers offense that’s moving away from traditional positional roles.

While Aiyuk wasn’t as versatile as Deebo Samuel in college, he brings a similar skill set while presenting more of a vertical threat. He averaged 18.3 yards per reception last season at Arizona State with eight touchdowns. He was a big play waiting to happen.

San Francisco needed to replace Emmanuel Sanders at the top of their depth chart, and Aiyuk may be able to do that and then some. He can work underneath thanks to savvy route running and ridiculously long 33 1/2-inch arms for his 6-0, 205-pound frame.

He’s a good athlete after the catch too, and can take short throws and turn them into chunk plays – a staple in 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Aiyuk is also capable of stretching the field vertically, although that’s not the strongest part of his game.

There’s a world, one that Shanahan’s probably envisioning, where the 49ers are impossible to predict based on their formations and personnel. Aiyuk can do a little bit of everything as a receiver, and he’s athletic enough to run some of the jet sweeps and end arounds that Samuel was so good at last season,

If Aiyuk develops quickly, it’s going to be a nightmare to defend the 49ers with him, Samuel, and George Kittle all on the field at the same time. Everything San Francisco has done offensively over the last couple offseasons has been geared toward ‘position-less’ football, and the Aiyuk acquisition is just another step in that direction.

Updated 49ers list of NFL draft picks after trade up in 1st round

The 49ers are low on draft capital after trading up to select ASU WR Brandon Aiyuk.

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The 49ers moved up late in the first round after trading down from the No. 14 spot. They turned the No. 31 pick into the No. 25 selection in a deal with the Vikings to draft Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The deal cost the 49ers their 31st overall pick, and a couple of their late-round selections, including the fourth-rounder they scooped up in the trade down from No. 13.

Here’s the updated list of picks:

Round 1, Pick 14 (via TB) | DL Javon Kinlaw
Round 1, Pick 25 (via MIN) | WR Brandon Aiyuk
Round 5, Pick 156 (via Denver)
Round 6, Pick 210
Round 7, Pick 217 (via Detroit)

If the 49ers are going to climb up into Day 2 of the draft, it’ll likely cost 2021 draft picks or players from their roster.

49ers select WR Brandon Aiyuk in first round of NFL Draft

ASU wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was selected by the San Franciso 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers selected Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday evening.

Aiyuk (6-0, 205 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 11 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Aiyuk to Robert Woods, who was a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

“He needs more polish, but his ability to create yards after catch could get him some early reps while he’s still developing,” Zierlein wrote of Aiyuk before the draft. “He has the potential to develop into a WR3.”

During his two years with the Sun Devils, Aiyuk caught 98 passes for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had a breakout season in 2019, totaling 65 receptions for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns.

Aiyuk was the seventh-best wide receiver in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s rankings for Draft Wire. TCU’s Jalen Reagor, Baylor’s Denzel Mims and LSU’s Justin Jefferson were among the players that Draft Wire had ranked higher than Aiyuk.

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Vikings traded No. 25 overall pick to the 49ers in NFL Draft

Breaking: Minnesota has traded the No. 25 overall pick in exchange for the 49ers’ 31st, 117th and 176th picks.

Minnesota found a wide receiver at No. 22, and the team had plenty of options at No. 25, but ultimately decided to trade back and acquire more draft picks in the process.

San Francisco traded their 31st, 117th and 176th picks in exchange for the No. 25 overall pick from the Vikings.

With the pick, the 49ers selected Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. It makes sense that the Vikings wouldn’t do that, considering the team already took a wide receiver at No. 22 in Justin Jefferson.

However, the team still has plenty of positional needs to shore up later in the draft. From offensive line to cornerback, there’s no telling what Minnesota will do with the 49ers’ No. 31 overall pick now that the team has received it in a trade.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman did say that he was entertaining offers for his picks, so this couldn’t have been too big of a surprise. And now Vikings fans have something to watch for later in the first round.

49ers trade up in 1st round, draft WR

The 49ers moved up in the first round to draft wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The 49ers traded up in the first round of the NFL draft. This time they moved up from No. 31 to No. 25 in a swap with the Vikings. It’s their second trade of the first round. They used the move to select ASU wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (eye-YOOK).

Here’s the deal via ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

49ers get: No. 25
Vikings get: Nos. 31, 117 and 176

Here’s the 49ers’ updated selections:

Round 5, Pick 156 (via Denver)
Round 6, Pick 210
Round 7, Pick 217 (via Detroit)

Aiyuk fills arguably the 49ers’ top need at wide receiver. He’s built a lot like Deebo Samuel at 6-0, 205 pounds. He was a home run threat every time he touched the ball with the Sun Devils.

In two years at Arizona State, Aiyuk caught 98 balls for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. He can stretch the field vertically, but he also has the after-the-catch ability to take short throws and turn them into huge gains.

Lions ‘dream draft’ scenario from Jeff Risdon

Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon has some fun with a dream 2020 NFL draft for the Detroit Lions

It’s NFL Draft day, finally! The moment we’ve all been waiting for, when Roger Goodell says the words “with the third pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select…” is almost here.

How will Goodell finish that sentence? The best guess is Jeff Okudah, but this one isn’t about trying to predict what will happen. This one is my personal dream draft weekend for the Detroit Lions.

In my dreams, the Dolphins trade up to No. 2 and take a quarterback. I don’t care which one, it doesn’t matter to me or to Detroit. That leaves Chase Young for the Lions at No. 3. It’s a dream scenario that I really thought was going to come true until about 2-3 weeks ago, too. Sigh.

Thursday wraps up with NFL teams making a run on offensive tackles, a couple of running backs and an unexpected off-ball LB or two. That sets up Friday and rounds two and three for a fantasy that is almost NC-17 rated.

At No. 35 and after landing Young, I want an offensive weapon. I miss Golden Tate a lot, so the dream pick here is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona State. Golden Tate 2.0. I like to picture Matthew Stafford giving me a fist bump for helping him out here. That’s what dreams are made of…

Now I still need a cornerback. Suddenly Wayne Brady strolls into the dream, I’m dressed like Johannes from the band Avatar and I’m a contestant on Let’s Make a Deal.

Johannes Eckerstrom of Avatar performs at the Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival at Mapfre Stadium on Friday, May 17, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Virginia CB Bryce Hall is still on the board at No. 49. He was the best CB prospect in the country entering 2019. Hall’s 2018 game film was better than Okudah’s, or C.J. Henderson, Kristian Fulton or the other CBs who will be long gone by this point. When Brady asks me if I want to trade No. 85 overall and a 2nd-round pick in 2021 to the Steelers, I scream out with a toe-curling “YES!”

Now I’m transported to a swim-up bar in a tropical resort. A ridiculously attractive bartender asks me “what do you want for your third-round pick, big boy?”

I look deep into her doe eyes and say, “Terrell Burgess, safety, Utah, please.”

She quickly scans the tablet menu and has me sign off on taking a smart, tough, physical and versatile safety who instantly upgrades the tackling and middle-of-field defense.

My Day 3 dream comes in a blur, as somehow I’ve been blessed with the open-field speed and long stride of Calvin Johnson in his prime. I’m in a 4×100 relay and my team looks like this:

Ohio State DT Davon Hamilton

Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans

St. John OT Ben Bartch

Florida Internation QB James Morgan

We might not be the fastest on the football field, but in dreamland, we can all fly.

That is the dream draft. Here’s hoping at least some of the dream comes true…

 

 

Rounding up the Saints picks in last-minute 2020 mock drafts

There isn’t much consensus among mock drafts in which prospect the Saints will select with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Who will the New Orleans Saints pick in the 2020 NFL Draft? The draft’s first round is set to kick off on Thursday night in prime-time, and the Saints are frequently projected to add one of the top linebacker prospects.

But there’s little agreement in which player they’ll go with beyond that position, and there’s a chorus of other voices calling for the Saints to go in other directions — wide receiver, quarterback, or even cornerback.

So we surveyed a series of final mock drafts before the real thing begins. Here’s who the experts predict will soon be wearing black and gold.

One of the most popular picks for the Saints remains LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, a pairing detailed by SI.com’s Kevin Hanson:

A.J. Klein signed a three-deal with the Bills in free agency but four of the team’s top remaining linebackers—Demario Davis, Kiko Alonso, Alex Anzalone and Craig Robertson—are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next offseason. One of the youngest prospects in the draft (he turns 21 in August), Queen played his best football down the stretch of LSU’s title run. While he’s a bit undersized, Queen is a three-down linebacker with outstanding speed that excels in coverage.

However, ESPN’s Mel Kiper went with Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. That’s a prospect-team fit endorsed by Peter Schrager for NFL.com, The Ringer’s Danny Kelly, and Ryan McCrystal of Draft Ace, who pointed out that Ted Ginn led the Saints with 20 targets of 20-plus yards last year, and he hasn’t been replaced yet. Kiper’s thoughts on the selection:

I thought about a cornerback or linebacker here — ILB Jordyn Brooks is a name to watch at the end of Round 1 — but New Orleans needs to find a solid No. 2 receiver behind Michael Thomas. Aiyuk is a playmaker with some versatility, and he’s dynamic after the catch.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah also targeted a wide receiver, linking the Saints with TCU prospect Jalen Reagor. Jeremiah also identified the need to fill the void Ginn left behind, talking up Reagor’s straight-line speed.

The Draft Network’s staff included three different analysts who connected the Saints with Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray, as did Lance Zierlein of NFL.com and SB Nation’s Dan Kadar. Here’s what their Trevor Sikkema wrote about that pick:

The Saints don’t have many needs, but linebacker is one of them. New Orleans could get spicy, as it often does, with a trade up. Sean Payton is a big fan of Ruggs, per Peter King, and the Saints could be in play for a move. But, with only five picks, they don’t have much ammo to do so. This pick is likely either Murray, Patrick Queen or another receiving weapon for Drew Brees.

Linebacker was a popular match for the Saints over at The Draft Network, with Carter Donnick choosing Queen over Murray (as did Evan Silva of Establish the Run, one of the most-accurate mock drafters in recent years; Charlie Casserly also went in that direction for NFL.com, as did Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports). However, Jordan Reid split apart from his Draft Network peers to go with Utah State quarterback Jordan Love:

There’s a legitimate argument for the Saints selecting a linebacker here, but with Drew Brees already contemplating retirement before returning for the 2020 season, they should start to think about an eventual replacement. Taysom Hill is an unrealistic option; he’s soon to be 30 years old and a utility player. Welcoming Jordan Love as an understudy to Brees could do wonders for New Orleans’ future.

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson also linked the Saints with Love, but his colleague Josh Edwards stuck with the Murray camp. The two linebackers stretched their lead as we continued the survey, with USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz also siding with Murray. Our own Luke Easterling over at Draft Wire picked Murray, too, and so did Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline.

A curve ball came from Peter King at NBC Sports, who suggested the Saints add depth at cornerback in Clemson’s A.J. Terrell:

I think defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s going to love the maturity and competitiveness of his defensive backfield, with Malcolm Jenkins—one of the smartest and most mature players in football—added to Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Williams, and Terrell, if he’s the pick. I like the fit with the Saints because Terrell is a good competitor and very coachable. When you start 30 straight games in a program like Clemson, you’re ready to take the next step.

That’s two dozen different mock drafts sampled. We’ll find out soon who made the best predictions. Here’s the final tally:

  • 9 — LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
  • 7 — LB Patrick Queen, LSU
  • 4 — WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
  • 2 — QB Jordan Love, Utah State
  • 1 — WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
  • 1 — CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson

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