There were plenty of ups and downs from the 49ers wide receivers in 2024
With the 2024 season over, it’s time to evaluate each position group’s performance. The 49ers wide receiver room was viewed as a strength heading into the season with Brandon Aiyuk signing an extension, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel returning, and the additions of Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing in the draft. It felt like this was the deepest position group ever under Kyle Shanahan.
Unfortunately, Pearsall was shot in a robbery attempt before the season started, Aiyuk would lose his season to an ACL and MCL injury, and Samuel didn’t perform up to expectations. Jennings had a breakout season and was a huge bright spot, but Cowing struggled to see the field in his rookie season.
Let’s look at each player and their season.
Jauan Jennings – 111 targets, 77 receptions, 975 yards, 12.7 yards per reception, 6 TD. 83.1 offensive grade, 83.7 receiving grade, 77.1 drop grade.
Although Jennings’s season ended 25 yards short of his first 1,000-yard season, Jauan was stellar in 2025 in his expanded role. While leading the receivers with 2.26 yards per route run, Jennings showed versatility by running 58.4 percent of his routes out wide and 41.6 percent out of the slot.
Jennings converted 47 of the 204 receiving first downs for the 49ers and forced 12 missed tackles. On throws in the middle of the field between 10-20 yards, Jennings finished with a 97.0 receiving grade and caught 15 of 20 attempts for 231 yards (32 YAC), 2 TDs, and a 125.2 NFL passer rating.
Deebo Samuel – 80 targets, 51 receptions, 670 yards, 13.1 yards per reception, 3 TD. 70.9 offensive grade, 72.1 receiving grade, 60.6 drop grade
Samuel led all 49ers receivers in yards after catch with 417 and finished second to George Kittle’s 512 yards for the team lead. Deebo’s 8.2 yards after the catch per reception was good for the team lead, and his 76-yard touchdown reception in Seattle was the longest play for any 49er receiver. Unfortunately, the 8.2-yard mark was a career low for the former all-pro.
There is no doubt this was a down season for Samuel, as his 1.60 yards per route run was also a career-low. Samuel had two games over 100 receiving yards against Minnesota and Seattle but eclipsed 90 receiving yards one other time in 2024 against Miami in Week 16.
Brandon Aiyuk – 45 targets, 25 receptions, 374 yards, 15.0 yards per reception, 0 TD. 74.6 offensive grade, 74.1 receiving grade, 55.1 drop grade
Aiyuk played in only seven games, but it was clear it took him time to get up to full speed and impact following his holdout through training camp. Somehow, Aiyuk still led the team with 15 yards per reception. Even with just 25 receptions, Aiyuk had a career-high drop percentage of 10.7 percent.
Week 5 was Aiyuk’s finest game, with eight receptions and 147 yards. The question becomes: how long will it take for Aiyuk to recover from his devastating knee injury, and how will the 49ers replace his ability to separate on his own in 2025?
Ricky Pearsall – 44 targets, 31 receptions, 400 yards, 12.9 yards per reception, 3 TD. 63.9 offensive grade, 64.1 receiving grade, 78.5 drop grade
The former Florida receiver debuted in Week 7 against the Chiefs, but Week 10 was the first time Pearsall flashed with four catches, 73 yards, and his first professional touchdown. While it was clear Pearsall needed reps, it took him until the end of the season to fully get involved in the offense.
Pearsall would total two catches after his Week 10 performance in Tampa Bay before his final three weeks, which totaled 18 receptions, 247 yards, and two touchdowns. Sixty percent of Pearsall’s routes came on the outside but may not indicate his role in 2025. The future is bright for the first-round pick.
Ronnie Bell, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley, and Trent Taylor accounted for the other 13 receptions for the receiver group in 2024.