It’s no secret that the San Francisco 49ers could use some help at wide receiver. With Brandon Aiyuk likely out for the early portion of the season and Jauan Jennings recovering from a calf injury that has him sidelined in camp, the Niners are lacking pass catchers in a big way.
It’s even more painful that they could have drafted Seattle Seahawks rookie wideout Tory Horton. Horton was balling out in Seattle’s first preseason game and seems set to play a role in the Seahawks’ offense this season.
Horton’s performance has San Francisco fans wondering what could have been.
Tory Horton makes 49ers regret passing on him in Seahawks preseason debut
Horton isn’t the biggest receiver. He’s not the fastest, either. But he’s as productive as any fan could hope for. He had back-to-back seasons with over 1,100 receiving yards at Colorado State before missing a large portion of his final year with an injury.
The Colorado State star was once considered a fringe first-round prospect, but his injury caused him to fall down draft boards. Still, the 49ers would have been wise to take him at the end of the fourth round.
Instead, they took Ole Miss product Jordan Watkins, letting Horton fall to the Seahawks in the fifth round. Watkins has been solid in training camp, but Horton’s preseason debut might have the 49ers regretting their choice.
Horton led all Seahawks receivers in both targets and catches with three receptions for 31 yards. He even scored a crucial touchdown in the second quarter. He even made an impact with a punt return. It’s just a preseason game, but the rookie already looks like a legitimate threat in the NFL.
After the game, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had high praise for Horton. Per NBC Sports, Macdonald said, “You just felt him out there in those situations, which was a continuation of what we’re seeing in practice. Great to see it in a game setting.”
He has a real chance to become a starter alongside Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. On the other hand, Watkins and fellow rookie Junior Bergen might need some time to develop before they’re ready for prominent roles.
Especially in the later rounds, the NFL draft can feel as random as drawing names out of a hat. It’s difficult to truly predict which prospects will make an impact in the league. But that won’t make it hurt any less if Horton ends up becoming a star for the Seahawks.
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