The San Francisco 49ers have arguably the best group of skill position players in the NFL. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are an excellent wide receiver combination. George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey are right at the top of the tight end and running back rankings as well. Not to be forgotten, left tackle Trent Williams is potentially the best in the business, too.
That is an embarrassment of riches for San Francisco on offense, which isn’t even their strongest unit. They had the No. 1 ranked defense in 2022, as they are once again in a position to contend for a Super Bowl.
Despite all of that talent, the 49ers are doing their due diligence when it comes to scouting talent for the 2023 NFL Draft. They have popped up as being interested in a few wide receivers, which does make some sense. The team has a decision to make when it comes to Aiyuk’s fifth-year option and there may not be enough money to retain him long-term.
As a result, there are some pass catchers on the 49ers’ radar for the draft. One of them is Jonathan Mingo out of Ole Miss. The Rebels have had some success sending receivers to the pros recently with D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown and Elijah Moore all looking solid as pros.
Mingo is hoping to be the next on that list. He has the physical tools to succeed at the next level, measuring out at 6’2” and weighing 220 pounds.
The Ole Miss product tested very well and is a big-bodied slot receiver, something that the 49ers could certainly use. Kyle Shanahan has no issues with moving his receivers around and getting the ball into their hands in space, which Mingo would thrive in. He would be a great addition to the team and could grow into a solid starter down the road.
Another player to keep an eye on is Ronnie Bell out of Michigan. The 49ers were one of the teams that Bell met one-on-one with. The others were the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.
Bell has the skill set to contribute right away as the No. 3 receiver on a team. With a little development, he could easily ascend to the No. 2 role behind an established No. 1 option. That is certainly intriguing for the 49ers, who could have a hole at the No. 2 spot next year depending on what happens with Aiyuk.
Bell and Mingo both have third-round projections. With three compensatory picks in the third round, the 49ers could certainly target one of them when they come on the clock.
