San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is poised for a breakout year in 2025. With Deebo Samuel traded to the Washington Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk expected to begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Pearsall is slated for a significantly larger workload. One 49ers legend believes the second-year receiver is ready to shine, and even drew comparisons to one of the NFC West's biggest breakout stars.

Pearsall missed the first six games of his rookie season while recovering from a gunshot wound sustained during a robbery attempt. After working his way back onto the field, the former first-round pick found his rhythm late in the season, finishing strong with 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his final two games.


Former 49ers tight end Brent Jones believes that the finish is just the beginning.

"His last couple of games, you could kind of tell it started to click for him," Jones recently told Guy Haberman. "His route running was more precise, he was sharp in and out of cuts, catching the ball, gaining confidence, and it was like, 'Wow, that was super impressive,' just to know that he finished the year strong. That can really catapult a guy with that confidence, even with that minimal success, into the offseason and into this season coming up."


Jones emphasized that Pearsall should be a major contributor in 2025. With Jauan Jennings expected to start alongside him in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, Pearsall will be one of quarterback Brock Purdy's key weapons as the 49ers look to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 campaign.

The adversity Pearsall overcame during his rookie year left a strong impression on Jones, who praised the young receiver's character and growth. Fans saw flashes of the potential that led the 49ers to select him in the first round.

"I actually think his burst is fantastic," Jones continued. "And what I really started to see was he started to get separation, and that's the biggest challenge."


Jones noted that while speed and athleticism can be desirable traits, the ability to get open consistently is what separates long-term NFL contributors from those who fade out. Pearsall, he believes, is figuring it out at the right time.

"You could almost feel the confidence growing in him, and it's like, 'Hey, I can do this, and I know what I need to do to get open, to make catches, to be a playmaker on this team,'" Jones said. "That's why I felt like, gosh, he's going to have this whole offseason. I guarantee he's got confidence. I know he knows what he needs to do to be a successful wide receiver.

"I know everyone's concerned. Brandon's still coming off his knee. Deebo's gone. And so, everyone's like, 'Well, what do we got?' Well, do not sleep on this guy because I think he's going to be—maybe not the amount of catches—but I think he's going to be Puka Nacua-like at some point."

The 49ers would certainly welcome that type of emergence. Nacua burst onto the scene with the Los Angeles Rams, tallying 1,486 receiving yards as a rookie in 2023. Even in a shortened 2024 campaign, he still recorded 990 yards in just 11 games. If Pearsall can follow a similar trajectory, a Purdy-to-Pearsall connection could become a staple of San Francisco's offense for years to come.

H/t to Nick San Miguel of Niner Noise for the find.

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