Cameron Sheath of Pro Football and Sports Network released an early projection of the 2027 NFL Draft, and his mock draft could spell trouble for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
In his projection, Sheath has the 49ers selecting Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller, one year after San Francisco used its top draft pick on wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, who has impressed during training camp.
The hope was that Pearsall would finally put together a breakout—and healthy—2026 season after missing 14 games during his first two NFL seasons. A PCL injury hampered the former first-round pick in 2025, and the lingering effects of that injury will force him to undergo season-ending surgery this year.
It's a worst-case scenario for Pearsall, the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With the wide receiver unable to play in 2026, it seems increasingly unlikely that the 49ers will exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie contract. That would make the 2027 season a true make-or-break year for the young wideout.
Meanwhile, Miller (6-2, 210) is coming off a productive 2025 campaign in which he recorded 45 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 18 yards per reception.
Miller, who played for Colorado the last three seasons, entered the transfer portal and will play for Arizona State in 2026.
"New England taking Becker would sting for the San Francisco 49ers in this scenario, but Omarion Miller is a strong consolation for a team in need," Sheath wrote. "Ricky Pearsall's path to NFL success continues to narrow with every injury layoff, and it's not as if the team's other skill players are pillars of health either.
"De'Zhaun Stribling's early second-round draft capital didn't stop the 49ers from bringing back Deebo Samuel Sr. after Pearsall's latest injury setback, which is telling. Miller's 6.4 yards after the catch per reception in 2025 suggests he'd be perfect for Kyle Shanahan and a seamless successor to Samuel in the slot."
For now, Pearsall's future with the 49ers remains uncertain. But with another significant injury keeping him off the field in 2026, the pressure will be on the young wide receiver to prove he can stay healthy and establish himself in San Francisco in 2027.
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