With Deebo Samuel most likely out, one can hope this is the case.

Could Ricky Pearsall be a breakout player in 2025? One ESPN writer thinks so.

ESPN had a panel of writers making some picks and projections. One such forecast was choosing a team, player, or coach as a breakout player. NFL Reporter Lindsey Thiry has wide receiver Ricky Pearsall as that breakout player

Thiry: Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers. The 49ers drafted Pearsall with the intention that he would play a larger role in his second season, but after recovering from a gunshot wound, he was needed earlier than anticipated following a series of injuries to teammates. After a full offseason with quarterback Brock Purdy, along with the likely departure of Deebo Samuel Sr. (requested a trade), Pearsall will prove why the 49ers took him in the first round.

Well, we can hope. With Deebo Samuel issuing his trade request we can all hope Pearsall can step into the role. The first half of Pearsall’s rookie season was a disappointment and by no means his fault, but he made up for it in the second half, showing some solid production and indication that he can shoulder the load.

Pearsall is in a great situation to fill the “breakout player” role in year two, with Samuel probably not with the team. If he

Is Pearsall the answer? Hopefully, when the 49ers took him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, they were obviously considering contracts and salary caps. He could have benefited from a longer rookie season, but that gunshot wound derailed things.

From a character standpoint, we learned much about Pearsall from that incident. The guy was shot in the chest over an attempted robbery and built momentum regardless. I don’t think any of us would blame him if it took a bit for him to get his head straight after that incident, but he came out and showed his potential.

Hopefully, with an offseason, a training camp, and an entire season this year, Pearsall can continue developing into Deebo Samuel 2.0. Do you see him as a potential breakout player?