If you haven’t realized it yet, Kyle Shanahan is an offensive genius who excels at finding players who will thrive in his plan.
Tight end George Kittle and second-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel are two examples of guys who got somewhat overlooked in the draft process, but Shanahan identified as the guys he wanted. The 49ers had a third round rating on Kittle but played and waited until the fifth round to take him. In a 2019 receiving class with AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, N’Keal Harry and Marquise Brown, Samuel was rarely considered among the best options in the draft, but Shanahan took him to the second round.
Kittle and Samuel have thrived in San Francisco, which shows that if Shanahan likes an attacking player and you don’t like him, you might want to rethink your scouting system.
Rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is the latest gadget in Shanahan’s arsenal. The 49ers drafted the Arizona State wide receiver with the No.25 pick, and Shanahan was apparently in love with the dynamic playmaker early on in the scouting process.
“I think Kyle would probably agree with you there,” NBC Sports ‘Chris Simms told Bleacher Report’s Adam Lefkoe of Aiyuk being a big part of the 49ers’ offense from the jump. “Kyle, throughout the draft process, was in love with Brandon Aiyuk, and it took me a long time not to spit his name out more during the draft process.”
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In one of the busiest receiving classes in recent NFL history, Shanahan is said to have been focused on Aiyuk with guys like Henry Ruggs, CeeDee Lamb, and Jerry Jeudy leading the class. In a group with a number of potential stars, Shanahan was drawn to Aiyuk above the others.
After Shanahan and general manager John Lynch could put Aiyuk in red and gold, the 49ers coach compared his new wide receiver to a professional football hall of fame.
“Listen, total transparency, I think he thought he would take it as he chooses [14] where he took Javon Kinlaw, “said Simms.” He said to me, ‘I think it’s Isaac Bruce.’ That’s what I think I have here. “
With Deebo Samuel suffering from a broken Jones foot during a training session with his teammates in Nashville this offseason, Aiyuk will have even more on his plate to open his NFL career.
Aiyuk is a YAC King with an impressive 81-inch wingspan and speed to rip through the top of a defense that models his game after Odell Beckham Jr. a short win in an explosive game. The 49ers drafted Aiyuk to help fill the void left by Emmanuel Sanders after the veteran joined the New Orleans Saints in free agency. But as Samuel may have missed the opening games of the 2020 season, Aiyuk will likely be seen as the best receiver in the scheme and the second pass-catching option after Kittle.
[[[[RELATED: Deebo’s injury opens the door for Aiyuk, Hurd, Jennings]
As for Shanahan’s comparison, Bruce was one of the top receivers in the NFL for over a decade. As part of the “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams, Bruce, 6 foot, 190 pounds, was a career surgeon who finished his career with 15,208 yards, fifth all-time between Randy Moss and Tony Gonzalez. Like Aiyuk, Bruce didn’t have a 40-yard electric rushing time, but his quick change ability and second burst made him one of the stars of the NFL’s passing boom. Bruce had a great ability to find holes in the area, catch the ball, take a burst shot down the field for a big win, leaving the defenses shaken.
Shanahan thinks he has a player like that in Aiyuk.
If he’s right, a number of NFL teams will have an egg on their face for passing Aiyuk on.
