Ricky Pearsall showed enough in his first two NFL seasons to generate real breakout buzz heading into 2026, and Sports Illustrated believes he could be the San Francisco 49ers’ next star receiver.
Sports Illustrated’s Eva Geitheim identified Pearsall as the player most likely to take a significant step forward for the 49ers this season, noting that he was on his way to a big year before his mid-season PCL injury.
He was among the league’s receiving leaders through three weeks last year, recording two 100-yard receiving games before that injury. If he can stay healthy—a massive “if” for a 49ers team plagued by injuries and with an ever-looming electrical substation—he could certainly emerge as the team’s top receiving threat, even after the additions of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling. Pearsall has the advantage of playing under coach Kyle Shanahan, who has long excelled at getting receivers open from Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson to All-Pros such as Julio Jones and George Kittle.
Pearsall finished his second season with just 36 receptions for 528 yards and no touchdowns in nine games, which was actually worse than his rookie year. The health caveat is real, and the receiver room is more crowded than it has been in years. Pearsall will have to earn his targets. But few coaches manufacture opportunities for receivers better than Shanahan, and Pearsall’s route-running ability fits the system well.
The bigger picture is that the 49ers need him to step up. Evans, Kirk and Stribling have clear roles in the offense, but Pearsall offers a home-run threat the team doesn’t have at the receiver position. His 14.7 yards per reception last year with incredible when he was heathy, and he has the skills to build on that if he can stay on the field.
At 24 years old, he’s entering a pivotal season. If he can stay on the field and build on what he showed in those first three weeks last year, a breakout performance is well within reach in 2026. But on the other hand, Pearsall is reaching a tipping point in his career that could derail the former first-round pick’s potential.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Former 49ers first-round pick named top breakout candidate for 2026
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
