The 49ers take Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall with the 30th overall…

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers selected Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the 30th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving them potential insurance if Brandon Aiyuk does not sign a long-term contract.

Last season at Florida, Pearsall had 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns, giving the Niners a slot receiver option. Pearsall was recognized for some highlight-reel catches in college, and he is now the next potential standout to join a powerful attack that advanced to the Super Bowl last season.

This was the Niners’ first pick in the first round since 2021, when they selected quarterback Trey Lance third overall. San Francisco traded first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 to move up nine spots that year to acquire Lance, who appeared in only four games for the 49ers before being sold to Dallas in August.

San Francisco has retained both of its best receivers, Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, for the time being, despite speculation that they may be prepared to trade one of them to move up in the draft. The Niners still need to sign Aiyuk to a long-term contract because he is in the final year of his rookie contract.