49ers 2025 breakout candidates to fill potential Jennings trade void

With Jauan Jennings' status in question, wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing step into clear roles as the San Francisco 49ers' breakout candidates for 2025.

The San Francisco 49ers are expected to turn to a pair of ascending weapons as they seek to replace departed stars and fill recently accentuated uncertainty at the receiver position heading into the 2025 season. On Monday, two publications predicted each team's breakout candidate for the 2025 NFL season, and both wisely chose second-year wide receivers for San Francisco.

Pro Football Network's Brandon Austin and the Athletic's Vic Tafur selected wideouts Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing as the 49ers' breakout candidates for the upcoming season. Their predictions come amidst news of fellow wide receiver Jauan Jennings' recent contract demands and potential trade request.

Ricky Pearsall

Former first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall showed potential over the latter half of the 2024 season, finishing his rookie campaign with 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Regardless of Jennings' status, Pearsall will need to help fill the void left by Deebo Samuel's departure to Washington.

"Pearsall's breakout came in Week 17 against Detroit, where he set career highs with eight receptions and 141 yards, including 122 yards on downfield targets," Austin stated.

"Pearsall's skill set differs from Samuel's, but his production in limited opportunities and his ability to stretch the field make him an intriguing breakout candidate," he added. "With a larger role on tap and a proven work ethic, Pearsall is positioned to become a key weapon for Brock Purdy and the 49ers' offense this season."

Jacob Cowing

Tafur also recognized how important Pearsall's progress will be to the 49ers in 2025 but ultimately opted for the Niners' other second-year receiving threat: "Ricky Pearsall is the (too) obvious answer, and he's coming off an offseason hamstring tweak after missing six games his rookie season," Tafur said. "So give us Cowing, the 5-foot-8, second-year player with 4.3 speed who could take a lot of the departed Deebo Samuel's gadget plays."

Tafur noted, "The 49ers like his toughness, speed and nose for yards after the catch. Cowing added more weight in the offseason to his once 168-pound frame to handle sweeps and other running plays, and he joined Pearsall to train with quarterback Brock Purdy in Jacksonville and Arizona. Tafur added that Cowing "looked sharp at offseason workouts and, with Brandon Aiyuk still sidelined, could carve out an important role at training camp."

Aiyuk, the 49ers' leading receiver in 2023, is expected to miss the first portion of the season as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained last year. Even prior to today's news about Jennings' contract demands, the 49ers were counting on their sophomore receiving duo to shine in 2025.

Jennings, who set career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns last season, is expected to request a trade after failing to secure a contract extension with the team. His status remains uncertain as training camp quickly approaches, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already thin position group in San Francisco.