49ers WR depth chart: What Brandon Aiyuk extension means for Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall

In the words of Jordan Belfort from "The Wolf of Wall Street" — "I'm not leaving."

The Brandon Aiyuk saga dragged out over the course of the offseason, but ultimately, he remains a 49er. San Francisco and the wide receiver agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension , keeping Aiyuk on the defending NFC champions.

Losing Aiyuk would have been a massive blow to the 49ers' chances of getting back to the Super Bowl. Even with Deebo Samuel on the roster, as well as 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, Aiyuk isn't a player you can easily replace. Luckily for head coach Kyle Shanahan, QB Brock Purdy and the rest of the 49ers, they don't have to.

With Aiyuk staying in the Bay Area, how does that affect the rest of the depth chart? Here's a preseason look at the 49ers' wide receiver depth chart for the 2024 NFL season.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet

49ers WR depth chart

The 49ers now have seven receivers on their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season. They are as follows:

2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K

1. Brandon Aiyuk

Aiyuk wanted to be paid like a top wide receiver — now he is one.

With his latest contract extension, the Arizona State product is now touted to be San Francisco's top wide receiver. Aiyuk enjoyed a sensational 2023 campaign, leading the 49ers in receptions (75), targets (105), receiving yards (1,342) and was tied for first in receiving touchdowns (7). It was the second consecutive season of Aiyuk recording at least 75 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards.

There certainly is a debate to be made that Deebo Samuel, not Aiyuk, should be considered WR1, but Samuel also is involved in the run game. Looking simply at passing, there is no one else that brings what Aiyuk does to the table on the roster. He's dangerous in open space, with a thick build that bodes well for the physical part of the game, and he has explosive speed that allows him to separate from defenders.

There is always the concern that once a receiver cashes in on the big pay day, they take a step back in production. We will see if that applies to Aiyuk, or if he instead showcases that he's worth every penny of his lengthy extension.

2. Deebo Samuel

Samuel is far from your typical wide receiver. Last year, the 49ers fully committed to using the 28-year-old in both the passing and running game. He finished third in both receiving (892) and rushing yards (225) on the team, displaying a knack for dodging defenders either after a handoff or after completing a catch.

Samuel is incredibly explosive in open space, which is what makes him such a dynamic weapon for the 49ers. He's speedy and shifty, and is a yard-after-catch machine. His play style does lead to concerns about injuries — he hasn't played a full season yet in the NFL — but there are very few players who can do what Samuel does.

While Samuel was considered to be the top receiver on San Francisco in years past, Aiyuk's breakout year last season, puts Samuel as WR2. But he still plays a major role in the offense, especially considering his emergence in the run game.

2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY
QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST

3. Jauan Jennings

While there is debate as to who the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers may be on the 49ers' depth chart, Jennings is the clear-cut No. 3. The fourth-year wide receiver is set to be another option on the offense for Purdy.

Jennings is an aggressive route runner who plays more like a smaller tight end than a wide receiver. His drops are a bit of a concern, but his size and strength make him impactful on offense. Last year, he played in 13 games, bringing in 19 catches on 33 targets for 265 yards and a touchdown.

Jennings' reps on offense will undoubtedly be impacted by the development of some of the 49ers' younger wide receivers, but for now, he's a solid weapon to deploy behind Aiyuk and Samuel.

4. Ricky Pearsall

The 49ers surprised some when they elected to use the No. 31 pick in the 2024 draft on a wide receiver, taking Pearsall with one of the final picks in the first round. The Florida product is considered to be a vertical slot option that possesses the speed and ball skills to be a weapon.

The biggest concern with Pearsall is his health. He is currently dealing with a subluxed shoulder issue that has lingered since college. He originally suffered the injury as a junior in college, never fully healed it, and now has re-aggravated it twice this preseason.

It feels like a matter of when, not if, the 49ers have to shut him down for the season. Slotting him at No. 4 on the depth chart is more of a hope that he can stay healthy and make an impact, but it feels like Pearsall is bound to fall to the bottom of the depth chart given his shoulder concerns.

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5. Chris Conley

Conley once again is back to be a part of the 49ers' offense. The journeyman played for San Francisco last year, seeing action in eight games for the NFC champions. Conley had three catches on six targets for 69 yards.

The 31-year-old veteran wasn't a major part of San Francisco's offense last year, and if anything, he appears to be in line to take a step back this year. With the 49ers taking Pearsall and Jacob Cowing in the 2024 NFL Draft, it's a crammed wide receiver room, and Conley seems like the likely odd man out if the team needs to cut down a receiver.

With that said, he comes with plenty of experience, and he offers the 49ers a reliable backup option as opposed to the two unproven youngsters.

6. Jacob Cowing

Cowing is a 2024 fourth-round pick of the 49ers, getting ready to begin his first season in the NFL. The wide receiver played for three years at UTEP before transferring to Arizona, where he spent two seasons with the Wildcats.

Cowing's inclusion on the 53-man roster isn't all that surprising. Despite missing the majority of training camp and the first preseason game due to a hamstring injury, he showed no signs of slowing down, carving out a role in the 49ers' offense that could easily allow him to move up the depth chart.

The way Shanahan's offense runs in San Francisco is similar to what Cowing experienced at Arizona. So far, he has proven that he can easily adapt and make an impact in the passing games.

7. Ronnie Bell

Bell is a second-year wide receiver out of Michigan. The 49ers drafted him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

As a rookie, Bell was mostly utilized as a punt returner, splitting duties with Ray-Ray McCloud III. Bell returned 10 punts for 70 yards, but now with McCloud III on the Falcons, it paves the way for Bell to become the full-time kick and punt returner for San Francisco.

He was used in the offense as well, bringing in six of his 13 targets for 68 yards and three touchdowns. While there is a chance Bell could still be an option for Purdy, it's likely that he will spend the majority of the season with the special teams unit.