Why 49ers Absolutely Must Draft Kevin White

The San Francisco 49ers hold the No. 15 pick in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL draft.

With that selection, San Francisco should make any and all attempts to land West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White.

The need for an impact wideout is pretty easy to understand. Veteran wideouts Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd are set to hit free agency this offseason. And, especially with Crabtree, contractual obligations will likely keep the cap-pressed 49ers from offering any sort of lucrative deal.

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On top of that, 34-year-old veteran receiver Anquan Boldin will enter a contract year in 2015. San Francisco lacks a long-term replacement at this position, so this year's draft provides the perfect opportunity for general manager Trent Baalke to land an impressive prospect.

But most importantly, the 49ers lack speed on offense. Aside from rookie Bruce Ellington—who was scantly used on offense this season—San Francisco does not possess a true deep threat at this position.

There isn't anyone who can take the top off defenses and stretch the field to help out a weary 49ers passing game.

What about that passing game?

San Francisco's passing offense ranked Nos. 30 and 29 in the league in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In 2014, the 49ers had just 3,063 yards through the air. The lack of a playmaking wideout hindered what the offense could do.

The solution will be to grab a talented wideout in this year's draft.

While not as deep as a year ago, the 2015 wide receiver draft class does offer some intriguing talent. Topping the list is Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Shortly behind him is Louisville's DeVante Parker.

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CBS Sports' wideout rankings now list White ahead of Parker, but longtime speculation prior to this change suggested that Parker would be drafted ahead of White.

The 2015 Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine will provide additional opportunities for these prospects to either rise or fall, but there should be a talented wideout available when San Francisco selects with the 15th overall pick.

Other names that warrant consideration are ASU's Jaelen Strong and Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham.

But White has all the necessary tools that make him a bona fide candidate for the 49ers. First off, his hands are something else. Take a look at this amazing touchdown grab back in October.

White's hands are just part of the overall package. Here is what Dane Brugler of CBS Sports said about him:

"

Tall, slender frame with good muscle definition and functional strength in contested situations. Outstanding leaping ability and reflexes to make adjustments to easily secure balls away from his body and is at his best highpointing and plucking with his large, reliable hands.

Very good foot quickness to beat press and get vertical in a hurry with his downfield acceleration. Displays above average coordination and footwork in his breaks to create separation at the top of his routes and catch the ball without breaking stride to create after the reception.

Quick feet and good vision to plan after the catch, displaying his ability to create and be more than a chain-mover. Uses his size to overpower defenders on occasion, breaking tackles to gain yardage after the catch.

"

These accolades helped White amass 109 receptions for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year with the Mountaineers.

Year	Class	Receptions	Yards	Average	TD
2013	JR	35	507	14.5	5
2014	SR	109	1,447	13.3	10
Total		144	1,954	13.6	15

The 6'3", 209-pound White also has the body size to make for an effective red-zone threat. San Francisco's red-zone offense has been anything but impressive in recent seasons, so an additional weapon here would be more than valuable.

But first, we must question whether White would be a good fit.

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Bleacher Report's Matt Miller sat down with Tyler Emerick of 49ers.com and discussed the various wideouts who could be targeted by San Francisco on Day 1 of the draft. Miller said:

"

He looks like Larry Fitzgerald out there. He’s a big, physical receiver with long arms and huge hands. But I also think he has some of that short yardage quickness and the wiggle that you need to get away from defenders. It’s not like he’s a Kelvin Benjamin where he’s just a huge target. He’s a very good athlete, too. The comparison I use for him is DeAndre Hopkins because he plays so much bigger than he is. He could be a pretty special player.

"

What makes White even more enticing is that he could be a fit for quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Miller goes into further detail when comparing White to Strong:

"

I still think that speed is so important for the 49ers, finding someone who can stretch the field and let Kaepernick use his arm strength. For that reason, I think Kevin White is a better fit for what the 49ers do... I don’t think either one is the wrong pick, but in terms of a team that needs to add some speed, I think White is a better fit.

"

If the 49ers couldn't land White for whatever reason, selecting Strong wouldn't be a bad idea. It's about as solid a No. 2 option there is in Round 1. 

So that prompts the question: Will White fall to San Francisco at No. 15?

Both Brugler and Rob Rang of CBS Sports mock White being drafted ahead of the 49ers' first pick. But ESPN's Mel Kiper (h/t Ryan Sakamoto of NinerFans.com) thinks that White will fall to San Francisco at No. 15.

This is good news for a 49ers team that needs a long-term solution at this position. And it doesn't hurt that Kaepernick is working out with White during the offseason, per Sakamoto.

White's draft stock isn't set in stone just yet. If he does rise in the rankings, the 49ers might be forced to trade up for this talented prospect—something they have done in previous drafts, so we shouldn't rule out that option altogether.

Hopefully the 49ers can get their man. If they do, San Francisco's offense will have a legitimate weapon that would provide not only a long-term solution to an emerging problem, but will also offer the talent and prowess necessary to ensure the 49ers offense doesn't continue on its lackluster trend.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Supplemental draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.

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