The San Francisco 49ers made a major free agency move when the team signed veteran receiver Mike Evans. The decision gave the 49ers a clear No. 1 pass-catcher, but the team’s unit is still in flux with the loss of Kendrick Bourne in free agency and the impending departures of Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk.
One area they could add another offensive threat to is in the 2026 NFL draft. San Francisco owns the No. 27 overall pick, which could easily be used to add a rookie receiver to join the room of Evans and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.
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The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner landed on Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the No. 27 selection in his most recent mock draft to shore up the receiver room in 2026, despite a possible immediate need at offensive line on the horizon.
The 49ers still have to figure out what to do with Trent Williams’ contract at left tackle, but they signed swing OT Vederian Lowe earlier this week. That move means receiver, another area of need, could be on the board in Round 1.
Cooper Jr. is an exciting receiver prospect the 49ers could consider because of his comparisons to former star Deebo Samuel. Cooper Jr.’s college quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, called the receiver “like a prime Deebo Samuel,” something that should be music to the 49ers’ ears this offseason.
The Indiana product caught 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushed three times for 74 yards and one score this past season. He has a similar frame to Samuel, too: Samuel stands at 6-foot and 214 pounds, while Cooper Jr. is 6-foot and around 204 pounds.
Whatever the 49ers do at No. 27, it should be to upgrade an offense that shed a lot of its key playmakers in 2025 and will be waiting for George Kittle to return from a torn Achilles injury. Cooper Jr. would be a solid addition.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers take flashy pass-catcher in new 2026 mock draft