The San Francisco 49ers are doing more homework at wide receiver ahead of the NFL Draft, and one name now firmly on the radar is Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Brazzell is scheduled to visit the 49ers this week as part of a busy pre-draft stretch that also includes the Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders. Rapoport added that Brazzell previously had top-30 visits with the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals.
That does not mean San Francisco is about to spend an early pick on him. But it does mean the 49ers see enough in Brazzell to bring him in for a closer look, and that is notable for a team still trying to keep its passing game explosive around Brock Purdy.
Brazzell is one of the more intriguing receiver prospects in this class because the traits are easy to spot. He spent two seasons at Tulane before finishing his college career at Tennessee, where he broke out in 2025 with 62 catches for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He also averaged 16.4 yards per reception, the kind of number that points to real vertical-play ability rather than pure volume production.
Why Chris Brazzell makes sense for San Francisco
For the 49ers, this feels less like a random visit and more like a classic Shanahan-era evaluation. San Francisco has never been shy about targeting receivers with a specific trait that can stress a defense, whether that is separation, run-after-catch ability or vertical speed.
Brazzell’s appeal is obvious in that context. At 6-foot-5 and around 200 pounds, he brings a bigger catch radius than several of the 49ers’ current speed-and-space options, and league evaluators have highlighted his size-speed profile coming out of Tennessee.
That matters because even with recognizable names on the roster, the 49ers still have reason to keep adding competition and long-term answers at receiver. The team’s official roster currently includes Brandon Aiyuk (who is unlikely to ever play for the 49ers again), Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Christian Kirk, Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson, Malik Turner, Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen at the position. A pre-draft visit with Brazzell suggests San Francisco is still looking at ways to add another outside threat or developmental piece with upside.
A visit is not a draft promise, but it is a clue
The important distinction here is that a top-30 visit is not a guarantee. Teams use these meetings for all kinds of reasons, from medical checks to character work to scheme-fit conversations. But when a prospect keeps showing up on multiple visit lists, it usually reflects a legitimate league-wide market.
That appears to be the case with Brazzell. Rapoport’s report shows six teams connected to him over a short span, which is a sign that he is firmly on the radar before draft weekend.
From the 49ers’ standpoint, that matters because San Francisco may not be able to wait around if it truly views Brazzell as a fit. If the team believes his downfield ability, size and developmental upside can grow in Shanahan’s offense, then this is exactly the kind of late pre-draft visit that can help sharpen the board.
What the 49ers would be betting on
If the 49ers draft Brazzell, they would not just be betting on college production. They would be betting on projection.
His Tennessee numbers show he can win vertically and produce chunk plays, but the bigger appeal for San Francisco may be what he could become in an offense built on spacing, timing and yards after the catch. Brazzell would give the 49ers another perimeter option with length, and that type of body can be useful in a room that already features a variety of smaller separators and veterans with defined roles.
At minimum, this is one more meaningful sign that the 49ers are still examining the wide receiver class closely. And with the draft approaching, San Francisco’s reported visit with Brazzell looks like more than routine legwork. It looks like a team making sure it understands one of the more interesting pass-catchers still on the board.
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