The San Francisco 49ers made a surprising move in the first round of the NFL draft by selecting former Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the 31st overall pick. Despite being projected as a mid-to-late second-round pick, Pearsall impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl and combine and climbed up the draft board leading into the event.
However, his selection was met with criticism from the media who questioned its validity. ESPN’s Seth Walder called it the team’s most disliked move, suggesting that there were better options available at that stage of the draft. Despite this criticism, Pearsall remains a talented prospect with potential in the NFL.
Pearsall transferred from Arizona State to Florida where he spent two seasons in Gainesville before being drafted by the Niners. His selection marks the fourth consecutive former Florida Gator to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. For ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @GatorsWire and like our page on Facebook. Stay updated on all things Gators with news, notes, and opinions.