Jamison Crowder Should Be Receiver to Watch for 49ers in Draft
With the San Francisco 49ers signing Torrey Smith a virtually “done deal“, it appears the team has found the deep threat that every team is so desperate for in the pass-happy league known as the NFL. With the draft looming as well, the team may be able to shift its focus from a home run hitting wide receiver to some other pressing needs in the first round, possibly a cornerback.
The team should still be looking for other receivers as well, as they have released Stevie Johnson this offseason, and Michael Crabtree is a free agent. Anquan Boldin also has just one year left on his contract, so the future is quite unclear at the wide receiver position for the 49ers. While the 49ers may not look to draft a wideout on day one of the draft, they can still keep their eyes open for someone in the later rounds.
One name that should be on the 49ers’ radar, and many other teams as well, is Jamison Crowder, the record-setting wide receiver from Duke University.
More from San Francisco 49ers
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
- 49ers sign TE Daniel Helm off the Buccaneers practice squad
- 49ers: Jordan Reed could miss up to two months, will be placed on IR
Crowder doesn’t have the ideal size of a number one receiver, as he stands at just 5-8, while tipping the scales at 175 pounds. Despite his diminutive frame, Crowder has all the necessary tools to be a great NFL player.
During his four years at Duke, in which he played all 52 possible games, including 40 consecutive starts to end his career, he caught 283 passes, tying the ACC record set by another former Blue Devil, Conner Vernon. He also racked up 3,641 yards and 23 touchdowns, good for third and 17th on the all-time ACC record list, respectively.
In 2013, his junior year, Crowder caught 108 passes, breaking the ACC record, and piled up 1,360 yards and eight scores. He followed that up with 85 grabs, 1,044 yards and six touchdowns his senior year. To accompany his great receiving resume, he is also an accomplished return man, as he took four punts to the house in his career, two as a junior and two as a senior, setting a school record.
Crowder was very impressive at the Senior Bowl as well, as Mike Mayock called him one of the “stars” of the early practices, also stating that “no one covered him.”
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
Crowder has a great skill set, highlighted by his explosive acceleration. He runs great routes, breaking them off clean and smooth, has sure hands, and is an excellent athlete. He was dunking for his high school basketball team before committing to play football for Duke. He could become a deep threat, while also playing a shifty slot receiver underneath the defense. He has been compared to Tavon Austin, the St. Louis Rams speed-demon, in the past.
A lot of early draft projections have Crowder as a third or fourth-round pick, but his stock rose with his impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. He will have a Pro Day later in the month of March, and if he is as impressive that day as he has been, his stock could continue to rise.
If the 49ers were to pick up this exciting young player, he could make a very nice third receiver behind Anquan Boldin and Smith, as well as shore up a special teams unit that had its share of issues in the return game last season. Bruce Ellington showed great flashes of potential as the returner, but he made his fair share of mistakes as well. Crowder is an experienced return man with great abilities, and could turn a weakness into a strength.
In a draft that is loaded with receiving talent, Crowder might go underrated, and fall to later rounds for the 49ers to swoop in and steal him up. If they don’t want to risk waiting and possibly losing out on a great talent like Crowder, a second-round pick could be justified.
The 49ers’ offense was anemic on more than one occasion last season, and bolstering a thin receiving corps is a great start to correct that problem. A player like Crowder will make the offense that much better.