During the 2024 NFL Draft, several outlets reported that the San Francisco 49ers were selecting Unanimous All-American Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean with the No. 31 pick. That report obviously proved to be false, as the team took Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall instead. Fans speculated that the organization leaked the information to identify a mole. Conspiracy theories aside, the 49er Faithful remember what could have been.
They watched DeJean record a pick-six off Patrick Mahomes en route to the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl victory versus the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday. His breakthrough brought out some hard feelings. Unfortunately, Pearsall was collateral damage.
“Anyone else remember the 2 minutes when Cooper DeJean was a 49er?” Rob “Stats” Guerrera posted on X during Super Bowl 59. “Just remember we could have had DeJean but we chose Ricky Pearsall instead because {Kyle} Shanahan knows best,” @iCap4Coochie said.
“The Niners drafting Pearsall over DeJean will haunt me forever,” @FridgeHN1C remarked. “I love Ricky Pearsall but honestly Cooper DeJean was a slam dunk pick at 31 and they chose a career #2/3 WR instead,” @tonyrenghini posted.
The Eagles scooped up their future Super Bowl hero with the No. 40 overall pick, and the rest is history. Even so, it is a bit early to dismiss Pearsall.