Legend Cites Incredible Puka Nacua Comparison for 49ers' Ricky Pearsall
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is poised for a breakout season in 2025. With Deebo Samuel traded to the Washington Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk expected to begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, Pearsall is set to shoulder a significantly larger role in San Francisco's passing game. And according to one franchise legend, he's ready. …
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Maybe even ready to develop into a Puka Nacua-level player.
Pearsall missed the first six games of his rookie year while recovering from a gunshot wound sustained during a robbery attempt. But after working his way back onto the field, the former first-round pick found his rhythm late in the season, closing strong with 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his final two games.
Former 49ers tight end Brent Jones believes that momentum is just the beginning. Jones, who overcame a serious car accident during his own rookie year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, sees uncommon traits in Pearsall's development — and even compared him to one of the NFC West's most surprising breakout stars.
'His last couple of games, you could kind of tell it started to click for him,' Jones said in a recent interview with Guy Haberman. 'His route running was more precise, he was sharp in and out of cuts, catching the ball, gaining confidence, and it was like, 'Wow, that was super impressive,' just to know that he finished the year strong. That can really catapult a guy with that confidence, even with that minimal success, into the offseason and into this season coming up.'
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With Aiyuk sidelined and Samuel gone, Pearsall will likely open the season as one of quarterback Brock Purdy's primary weapons. Jauan Jennings is expected to start alongside him in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks as the 49ers look to rebound from a disappointing 6-11 campaign.
'I actually think his burst is fantastic,' Jones continued. 'And what I really started to see was he started to get separation, and that's the biggest challenge.' Jones emphasized that speed and athleticism are important, but separation is what truly defines consistent NFL production.
Jones was just as impressed with Pearsall's mental development, noting the confidence shift that was evident in his body language and playmaking. 'You could almost feel the confidence growing in him, and it's like, 'Hey, I can do this, and I know what I need to do to get open, to make catches, to be a playmaker on this team,'' Jones said. 'That's why I felt like, gosh, he's going to have this whole offseason. I guarantee he's got confidence. I know he knows what he needs to do to be a successful wide receiver.'
That confidence might be arriving just in time. With the receiving corps in transition and major questions surrounding Aiyuk's knee, Pearsall has a legitimate opportunity to become one of San Francisco's top offensive threats.
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'I know everyone's concerned,' Jones said. 'Brandon's still coming off his knee. Deebo's gone. And so, everyone's like, 'Well, what do we got?' Well, do not sleep on this guy because I think he's going to be — maybe not the amount of catches — but I think he's going to be Puka Nacua-like at some point.'
The comparison to Nacua is striking. The Los Angeles Rams receiver shocked the league with 1,486 receiving yards as a rookie in 2023 and followed it up with 990 yards in just 11 games last season. If Pearsall can tap into a similar rise, a Purdy-to-Pearsall connection could become a cornerstone of San Francisco's future.
The 49ers would welcome that kind of ascension. After a harrowing start to his NFL career, Pearsall has shown the resilience, confidence and on-field growth needed to step into the spotlight. If Brent Jones is right, San Francisco might be witnessing the emergence of its next great wide receiver.
Related: 49ers' RB Has 'X-Factor' Impact on NFC West Race
Related: 49ers Injuries Force Slide in 'Playmaker' Group Rankings
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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