Despite 49ers rumors attempting to ascertain whether or not the San Francisco 49ers have either the will or cap space to sign free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson, the 49ers are pretty much certain to address their needs at wideout via the 2014 NFL draft -- whether or not they make a legitimate run at the 27-year-old former Philadelphia Eagle.
Per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, it is not a matter of if the 49ers will draft a wide receiver early in May's NFL Draft -- it's a matter of what type of receiver they are looking for -- "The question now becomes: Which type of receiver does the team need? Could they use A.) a speedy T.Y.-Hilton receiver who can put pressure on the back ends of defenses? Or do they go with B.) a tall, sturdy, Alshon Jeffery-type player who fits their tough-guy offense and who can be a threat in the red zone."
"It's a trick question. The answer is C. They need both," Barrows quips.
From a speed-receiver perspective, Barrows posits these options for the 49ers: "LSU's Odell Beckham Jr. and Oregon State's Brandin Cooks fit the description. Later, the draft offers Wyoming's Robert Herron, Colorado's Paul Richardson, Clemson's Martavis Bryant and South Carolina's Bruce Ellington."
If the San Francisco 49ers want to draft a burly possession receiver with fantasy football touchdown-grabbing potential, Barrows lists "Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews, Ole Miss' Donte Moncrief, Fresno State's Davante Adams and Indiana's Cody Latimer" as legitimate options.
Due to a litany of past trades, the San Francisco 49ers have six picks in the 2014 NFL Draft's first three rounds, and eleven picks overall -- meaning they might be able to turn the speed receiver or possession receiver debate into an "and" proposition.