University of Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault is one of the best receivers in the country, dominating the competition in the PAC-12 Conference. The San Francisco 49ers should be taking a good look at him for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Originally a three-star recruit for DeSoto, Texas, Shenault joined Colorado in 2017. Since then he has been a constant nightmare for defensive coordinators in the PAC-12 and around the country.
At 6-2, 220-pounds, Shenault boasts a mix of both size, speed and strength that is unfamiliar to most. Shenault is a big-play threat, with the ability to take the top off opposing defenses with a quick first step off the line of scrimmage that puts cornerbacks at an early disadvantage.
At 6-2, Shenault has the ability to win 50/50 jump balls and a greater opportunity to locate the ball and make an acrobatic catch before the defender can even get on his level.
Another interesting aspect of Shenault's game is his ability to run the wildcat, with seven rushing touchdowns in the last two seasons.
All of these attributes put Shenault among the best wide receivers in the country. In three seasons with the Buffaloes, Shenault has 145 receptions for 1,900 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
A team that should immediately consider drafting Shenault is the San Francisco 49ers.
While San Francisco added Emmanuel Sanders to the receiving core, a good move, the team still need a playmaking threat. Sanders, Deebo Samuel and Marquise Goodwin are all on the smaller side, so Shenault would be a red zone and deep ball target for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Despite the talent that is available with the current receiving group, the player with the most receiving yards isn't even a wide receiver, it's tight end George Kittle.
Kittle currently has 670 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The next closest receiver is Samuel with 523 yards and two touchdowns.
It hasn't been much of a problem for the 49ers, who stand at 9-1 and are considered among one of the best teams in the NFL. But having a big-time wide receiver could open up the offense even more. Snagging a player like Shenault would give more opportunities to the run game, as well as Kittle.
Not having an “it” guy for the 49ers offense could be a problem for them down the line in the regular season and playoffs. Shenault won't be a game-breaker early on in his career, but every quarterback has their special receiver to go along with them and Garoppolo needs his.
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