Since losing to the Arizona Cardinals in their 2024 season finale, the 49ers have been among the busiest teams in the league. San Francisco kickstarted the process by trading Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders before purging its roster of veterans. General manager John Lynch released Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Mitch Wishnowsky.
Instead of attacking the free agency market, the 49ers used their additional cap space on their current roster. After lengthy negotiation periods, San Francisco gave George Kittle and Brock Purdy the lucrative extensions they coveted.
The 49ers’ wild offseason adventures suggest their commitment to the current roster, even coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign. More specifically, their decision to trade Samuel signals their faith in Pearsall as a full-time starter. The 2024 first-round pick had an up-and-down rookie season, to say the least, but the pressure is now on him to perform in his second year.
Ricky Pearsall’s rocky rookie season
It was certainly not his fault, but Pearsall’s career did not start well. The rookie was shot in the chest at point-blank range during an attempted robbery roughly one week before the 49ers’ 2024 season opener. He was able to walk to the ambulance under his own power and was released from the hospital the next day.
Pearsall miraculously managed to return to the field less than two months after narrowly escaping death. However, his return came with a slow start, as the Florida alum was understandably operating at less than 100 percent. Pearsall topped 50 receiving yards in just one of his first nine games before breaking out with 141 receiving yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 17. He ended the season with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
The shooting that predated it largely overshadowed Pearsall’s inaugural outing, but his on-field performances were inconsistent at best. Yet, how he ended the regular season could not have been much better than the 49ers hoped. It is never fair to judge a player on a season impaired by a traumatic, near-death event, much less a rookie with big shoes to fill on a disappointing team.
Article Continues BelowWith Brandon Aiyuk returning and Jauan Jennings coming off an unexpected breakthrough season, the 49ers do not need Pearsall to be a superstar in 2025. But with Samuel out of the picture, Kyle Shanahan clearly sees him as a significant part of the team’s future. Nobody has more to prove in 2025 than Ricky Pearsall, who should be fully healthy and tasked with partially filling the void Samuel left behind.
Ricky Pearsall has most to prove at 49ers’ 2025 OTAs
The 2025 season is not an all-or-nothing deal for Pearsall, but there is a lot on the line for the former first-rounder. Pearsall is the favorite to begin Week 1 as the third starter flanking Aiyuk and Jennings, but the competition behind him could easily creep forward.
After trading Samuel, the 49ers signed veterans DeMarcus Robinson, Isaiah Hodgins, Russell Gage and Trent Taylor to fill out their roster. They additionally added Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen at the 2025 NFL Draft in the fourth and seventh rounds, respectively. Adding fuel to the fire is undrafted rookie Isaiah Neyor, who gained steam during the team’s rookie minicamp.
With Robinson, Hodgins, Gage and Taylor all bringing starting experience, a poor offseason from Pearsall could quickly shoot him down the depth chart. San Francisco has the most stock in Pearsall, but Shanahan has never hesitated to go against that trend before. Pearsall’s career trajectory will depend on the 2025 season, giving him the most to gain and lose at the 49ers’ OTAs.
An elite athlete, Pearsall has lived up to his expectations thus far. The resilient wideout’s work ethic has been praised at each of his stops, suggesting a big offseason for him in the coming months. If there is any player on the team to back under such pressure, it is Pearsall.
