49ers select Alabama receiver in 2027 NFL mock draft

Injuries have hit the San Francisco 49ers' receiving corps hard this season, with Ricky Pearsall, De'Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson, and Deebo Samuel among those affected. The 49ers will enter their Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders with Mike Evans (also battling injuries) and Brandin Cooks as their top wide receivers, while hoping younger players step up.

With those concerns in mind, CBS Sports' Josh Edwards released his latest 2027 NFL mock draft, projecting the 49ers to select a wide receiver with their first pick for the second consecutive year. Edwards has San Francisco selecting Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams with the No. 32 overall pick.

"I toyed with the idea of giving San Francisco an offensive tackle, but Trent Williams' contract seems to take that off the table, and it has never worked out for me the countless times I have gone down that path in the past anyway," Edwards wrote. "The 49ers' wide receiver room is old and/or oft-injured. It is difficult to make future plans based on the availability of Ricky Pearsall when that has not been the case early in his professional career."

Coleman-Williams has emerged as a productive target for Alabama this season, recording 23 receptions for 415 yards and four touchdowns through six games. He is averaging 18 yards per catch.

In his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Coleman-Williams caught 97 passes for 1,554 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. He also added two rushing touchdowns, according to Sports Reference.

"Ryan Coleman-Williams is a first-round talent who has dealt with drops," Edwards continued. "If San Francisco can coach that out of him, it is getting one of the better players in this class."

Coleman-Williams (6-0, 184) has shown improvement in that area this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded 17 drops over his first two seasons at Alabama but has just one in 2026. His receiving grade has also improved, rising from 66.0 in 2025 to 73.0 this season.

With the 49ers facing questions about the long-term outlook of their receiving corps, adding another young playmaker could make sense. Edwards believes he could be a strong fit in San Francisco.