Pro Football Focus (PFF) contributor Ryan Smith recently named 10 second-year players poised for bigger roles in 2025, and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was among them. Given Pearsall's late-season surge and the 49ers' offseason moves, his inclusion shouldn't come as a surprise.

The start of Pearsall's rookie campaign was derailed early after he was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt, forcing him to miss the first six games of the season. Despite the setback, he finished with 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns on 46 targets, per Pro Football Reference.



One of the biggest reasons for optimism is how Pearsall closed out the season. Over the final two games, he racked up 14 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns, including a breakout performance in Week 17, when he recorded 141 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions.

"The 49ers traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in March, creating a path for Pearsall to step into a bigger role in 2025," Smith wrote. "Samuel graded out no lower than 70.9 in his six years with the team, so San Francisco will be counting on Pearsall to produce in a big way moving forward."

Additionally, the 49ers are expected to be without star wideout Brandon Aiyuk to start the season, as he continues recovering from ACL and MCL injuries. That leaves Pearsall and Jauan Jennings as the likely starting receivers for Week 1, giving the former first-round pick an early chance to showcase his growth since his rookie campaign.

While Pearsall is currently dealing with a minor hamstring issue, he's expected to be fully healthy by the time training camp opens in late July. With a clear path to a starting role and momentum from his late-season success, the 49ers are hopeful Pearsall can take a significant leap in 2025.

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