See first-round pick Pearsall in 49ers uniform for first time
San Francisco offered fans a glimpse of first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall in the Red and Gold on Saturday, and the No. 14 49ers uniform certainly suits him well.
The photos come as part of the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere event, which began Thursday and helps rookies connect with potential brand partners. Events at the four-day extravaganza included a Friday night jersey reveal party and a day-long photoshoot on Saturday.
Pearsall was selected by the 49ers at No. 31 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft last month, and although the former Florida Gators wide receiver used to wear No. 1 in college, he has switched to No. 14 with San Francisco after star wideout Deebo Samuel changed from No. 19 to No. 1 this offseason.
“[The 49ers] gave me the number,” Pearsall told 95.7 The Game on May 1. “That’s what they assigned me to for camp, so we’re going to rock out with it. We’re going to make it look good. …
“They said that number got no aura, but I’m going to put some aura into it.”
And it looks like that aura has arrived, based on the first glimpse of Pearsall in his new threads.
NFL analyst not ruling out Caleb Williams taking the Bears to the Super Bowl
“This is my bold prediction. Forget guaranteeing the playoffs. … I think Caleb could lead the Bears to the Super Bowl in his rookie season,” Nick Wright said on “First Things First” on FS1.
Why does Wright think that’s possible despite there being no evidence to suggest its probability?
“We have seen rookie quarterbacks step in, be excellent, and the team be contenders,” Wright said. “… The idea that rookie quarterbacks don’t ever step in and have success is belied by history. And this Bears team is, I think, a playoff team with just slightly below-average quarterback play. They were a seven-win team last year and they added [Rome] Odunze, they added Keenan Allen.”
To Wright’s point, there are rookie quarterbacks who have seen and had success in the playoffs. Last year, we saw it when C.J. Stroud took the Texans to the playoffs and took them to the divisional round. Dak made the divisional round with the Cowboys in his rookie year.
To go a step further, five quarterbacks in NFL history have played in a conference championship game. Rams’ Shaun King (2000), Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (2005), Ravens’ Joe Flacco (2009), Jets’ Mark Sanchez (2010) and 49ers’ Brock Purdy (2023).
There, we can establish rookie quarterbacks aren’t incapable of postseason success. Wright adds the Bears’ schedule favors an easy ascension into his first year, also. They face five teams expected to struggle next season in the first 10 weeks, including the Patriots, Commanders, Cardinals, Panthers and Titans.
The Bears don’t play a divisional game until Week 11 when the Bears take on the Packers. Because the NFC North appears to be one of the league’s top divisions next season, their 10-week start without divisional opponents gives Williams time to come into himself, first.
