What constitutes a successful rookie campaign, in Ricky Pearsall’s opinion?

1. What does Ricky Pearsall consider to be a successful rookie campaign?

The NFL Draft took place a week ago today. Amidst the chaos of grades and assessments, one choice stood out as being very contentious. ESPN selected Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers as the most “head-scratching” first-round selection.

Because of their unwillingness to move out of pick 31, along with their run on offensive linemen and wide receivers, the 49ers thought that they had selected the best player available for their strategy and culture. It remains to be seen if Pearsall will out to be BPA or not.

Let’s explore Pearsall’s prospective role as a rookie rather than focusing on his draft position. It is not anticipated that Pearsall will be the main target, in contrast to many first-year receivers. On a squad that also has Aiyuk to, Kittle, McCaffrey, andennings J, he is most likely to be the fifth option.

We’ll overlook one anomalous season. If Pearsall gains more than 1,000 yards this offseason, one may argue the 49ers ought to have traded up for him. Jaxon Smith-Njigba of Ohio State was chosen by the Seahawks in the first round of the previous draft. He was mostly a slot receiver, as many people had anticipated Pearsall to be.

With 250 snaps in the slot, Smith-Njigba holds the seventh-highest number in the NFL. With 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns, he concluded the season strong. Pearsall feels that the figures are high.

In slot receiving yards, Aiyuk and Samuel were among the top 20 finishers. Pearsall is expected to contribute to both totals, but if he could only play in the slot, I doubt Shanahan would choose a player this early.

Perhaps a more useful method to assess Pearsall’s value is to look at his total yards, first downs, and touchdowns rather than just the raw numbers. What proportion of his plays make an offensive difference? In 2023, Aiyuk’s efficiency was unmatched. Is Pearsall able to emulate his present and former teammate?

Any discussion about that player and his draft position will surely come up in any comparison. during instance, Demario Douglas was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round, but that’s the player I keep thinking of during Pearsall’s rookie season. Douglas produced most of his yardage from the slot (370 of 561), with 17 of his 31 receptions going for a first down. Even though he didn’t score a touchdown, I’m going to venture to guess that the 49ers’ quarterback situation in 2024 will be marginally better than the Patriots’ in the previous year.

What would a successful rookie season for Pearsall look like to you?