NFL writer believes 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall is headed for a breakout season

Is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall headed for a breakout season? One NFL writer believes he could be. And there's reason to agree.

The biggest criticism of Pearsall is that he hasn't been on the field enough, missing 14 games in two seasons. But he's shown flashes when he's played. In his two seasons, Pearsall has shown an ability to get open and make tough catches. He has also averaged 13.9 yards per reception in his short career.

Gary Davenport, of Bleacher Report, wrote an article on Saturday titled, "6 Rookie Contract Players Set to Go from Bust to Breakout in 2026." In the article, he lists six players still on rookie contracts who have gotten off to disappointing starts. Some have even been called a bust. But Davenport believes each of these players will "shake off a slow start and go from disappointing starter to burgeoning star."

Among the six listed was Pearsall. Here's what Davenport had to say about the player getting ready to enter his third season.

"To say that Ricky Pearsall's NFL career got off to a rocky start is a whopper of an understatement," Davenport wrote. "After being selected with the penultimate selection of Round 1 in 2024, Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt just before the regular season began. The larger problem is that things actually got worse from there. Pearsall played 11 games as a rookie, hauling in 31 passes for 400 yards and three scores. In 2025, Pearsall missed even more time and failed to find the end zone."

In 2024, Pearsall looked like a talented rookie. He was excellent at times, and not great other times. But in 2025, Pearsall looked like he would become the player the 49ers envisioned. But injuries haunted him all season, and he never got rolling. Yet, when he played, he mostly looked the part.

Davenport cited former 49ers safety Donte Whinter, who believes if Pearsall is going to be a player the 49ers can count on, he has to stay on the field in 2026.

"Last year coming into the season and healed up from the gunshot wound: PCL, knee injury, ankle, inconsistency, and a lack of availability," Whitner said. "That's Year two. Now we did see him flash. We did see his ability to separate. We did see him make plays, but we didn't see it when it counted.

"Now you go into Year three. If Ricky Pearsall misses around 50% of the availability in the games this year, I can say that it's probably over for the perception of Ricky Pearsall developing into a number-one wide receiver in Kyle Shanahan's offense."

Whitner is correct. It's a make-or-break season for Pearsall. Jacob Cowing, who was drafted the same year, could be healthy and make a return. He's missed more games due to injury than Pearsall has. But Cowing has excellent speed, something the 49ers desperately need.

Last year, the 49ers drafted Jordan Watkins out of Ole Miss, and this year, they drafted his former teammate De'Zhaun Stribling. And that doesn't even mention the offseason additions of future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and veteran Christian Kirk. The wide receiver room has been upgraded in San Francisco, and the competition will be much stiffer.

Many have already counted Pearsall out and labeled him as another bad pick by Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. But Davenport warns against counting out the former Florida Gator.

"Pearsall has been written off in many circles," Davenport added. "But there's a legitimate scenario where Pearsall has far and away the best season of his career this year."

The 49ers would love that. And with the amount of injuries they've faced the last couple of seasons, they may need it.