The 49ers have drafted another wide receiver. Shocked? Stunned? Jaw on the floor? Here's why they did it.
Cowing is the second shot at what the 49ers hoped Danny Gray would be. He is absolutely rapid, with outstanding ability and 4.38-second speed to stretch the field vertically, and run with the ball after the catch.
He can be an immediate slot backup, and a dynamic, change-of-pace player. He makes the 49ers deeper at a receiver position that might not have Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings next season. His college production was immense at both UTEP and Arizona, with 4,477 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns in his college career.
But he will likely have to show up as a punt returner to find an immediate role and make the roster. He had limited college production there, with 18 punt returns for a 6.7-yard average per return.
One thing that is evident is that San Francisco has put a massive emphasis on special teams. They added the likes of Chase Lucas, Ezekiel Turner and Isaac Yiadom over the summer, along with placeholder punt returner Trent Taylor. They also retained Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
In this draft, they’ve acquired two potentially dangerous punt returners in Ricky Pearsall, and now, Cowing. Isaac Guerendo could be their Day 1 kick returner. From a talent perspective, the 49ers are set up to be elite on special teams.
DRAFT GRADE: C+
This is the first pick the 49ers have made that’s been a little bit of a head-scratcher, with stronger arguments at defensive end, defensive tackle, and tight end.
That said, San Francisco clearly thinks Cowing has the upside to be a genuine, starting slot receiver, and stretch the field in a way that they have looked for since the the days of Marquise Goodwin. They have dreamed of a legitimate vertical, speedster, and aside from Goodwin’s first year in 2017. Maybe, possibly, Cowing could be that, the phoenix rising from the ashes of Danny Gray’s fruitless selection.