Will Deebo Samuel be Kyle Shanahan’s new Pierre Garcon?
By Bryan Perez
San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel has a chance to be the most productive rookie pass-catcher in the NFL in 2019.
One of the more underrated prospects leading up to the 2019 NFL draft was South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Rarely was he mentioned among the top two or three prospects at his position in the class, but he ended up being the third receiver selected when all was said and done.
Now, he has a chance to be the most productive rookie of the bunch in 2019.
Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers drafted Samuel in the second round (No. 36 overall) in what feels like a perfect match of player and offensive system. San Francisco desperately needs an athletic and physical intermediate target to complement tight end George Kittle and the cast of speedy wide receivers already on the roster. Enter Samuel, who brings with him traits similar to former Redskins standout, Pierre Garcon.
Shahanan was Garcon’s offensive coordinator in Washington when he enjoyed the best year of his career in 2013. Garcon totaled 113 catches for 1,346 yards and five touchdowns that season, and it’s no surprise he was one of the first players Shanahan added to the 49ers when he got the job in 2017.
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But Garcon isn’t the same player he used to be, and as a result, Shanahan had to find a guy who can do a lot of the same things while becoming a fixture in the offense. That guy is Samuel.
In fact, Samuel’s fit in San Francisco is so perfect that he was pegged as a preseason All-Rookie Team player by NFL.com.
"Wide receiver: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (Round 2, No. 36).San Francisco’s need for a receiver in the second round was not a well-kept secret. A healthy Jimmy Garoppolo will find Samuel open for short, intermediate and deep throws to challenge each level of the defense."
If you’re a fantasy player, circle Samuel as a must-have in your rookie drafts. He’s a supremely talented pass-catcher regardless of system, so adding him to an offense that will know how to use his quickness and after-the-catch ability to its maximum upside makes him that much more appealing in 2019 and beyond.