Unsurprisingly following a draft loaded with quarterbacks and offensive weapons, 31st overall pick Ricky Pearsall is not among the favorites for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
FanDuel Sportsbook has released odds for the prize in the wake of the draft, and the first San Francisco 49ers first-round pick since 2021 doesn't even feature in the top 10.
Indeed, Pearsall is tied for 14th in the list of odds. He shares odds of +4000 with tight end Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright and Indianapolis Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Pearsall's position is reflective of his likely role competing for the third wide receiver for the 49ers, which would put him fifth in the pecking order among their pass-catchers given the prominence of tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey in the passing game.
Yet there's reason to believe he could be an intriguing longshot bet. Pearsall is an ideal fit for the 49er offense as a detailed route-runner who does an excellent job of consistently defeating coverage by implementing his change of direction and stop-start quickness into his routes. Per Sumer Sports, Pearsall's average separation of 3.25 yards was second among receivers in the 2024 draft.
Pearsall's prowess in creating separation should help him build a rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy, who has demonstrated a proficiency for quickly building an understanding with his pass-catchers.
With 11 personnel still the most commonly used grouping by the 49ers, despite how effective they are out of 21, Pearsall figures to see the field regularly, giving him ample opportunity to produce and begin to justify San Francisco's selection.
His Rookie of the Year hopes may well rest on an injury the 49ers will want to avoid but, were one the 49ers' starting wideouts to go down, Pearsall would be in a position to maximize a potential rapport with Purdy and put up numbers that could catapult him into the conversation. It's unlikely, but Pearsall being in the mix for the award come the end of 2024 is not so farfetched.
Running back Isaac Guerendo's path to being in the discussion would also likely be reliant on injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, and the fourth-rounder is a rank outsider by FanDuel's odds. Guerendo is a +10,000 shot to win the award.
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