Why CeeDee Lamb is a Better Fit for 49ers Offense Than Jerry Jeudy

The San Francisco 49ers got about as close as a team can get to winning a Super Bowl this past February. One incomplete pass from Jimmy Garoppolo could have been the ultimate difference and the 49ers may now be looking to draft a receiver early in 2020.

The top two names in this year's class are Alabama's Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb. Both are projected to go early in the first round by most sources and the 49ers could even have to trade up from No. 13 to snag their guy. The best fit for the 49ers would be Lamb.

Lamb stands one inch taller than Jeudy at 6-2. Yet the key with the Oklahoma product is getting him in Kyle Shanahan's offense and letting him run free. Garoppolo showed an inability to consistently go deep last season. Using Lamb's size and 4.5 speed in underneath routes opens up the offense, and opposing defenses would have to prepare for the yards-after-catch potential he showed off in college.

Jeudy was a bit limited at Alabama in being forced to polish his route-running abilities. Lamb was in the pass-heavy Oklahoma offense and became an excellent route-runner who averaged 21.4 yards per reception in 2019. In Shanahan's west coast scheme, Lamb would thrive.

The 49ers used players like Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne on short, underneath routes in 2019. Lamb possesses both the size and speed to replace the void left by Emmanuel Sanders and fit right in. Jeudy being more of a deep threat could work better in a different scheme aimed at taking advantage of his strengths.