The San Francisco 49ers have made their second 5th round pick of the 2017 NFL draft. The team selected Louisiana Tech wide receiver Trent Taylor with pick No. 177. The 49ers acquired the pick from the Denver Broncos in the Kapri Bibbs trade in which they gave up a 2018 fourth round pick.
Taylor joins a overhauled wide receiver depth chart that includes Pierre Garçon, Jeremy Kerley, Marquise Goodwin, and Aldrick Robinson, among many others.
Taylor served as Louisiana Tech’s punt returner over the past three seasons, so he’ll get a chance to challenge there for an opportunity. However, his hands are what people like. This past season, he caught 136 passes for 1,803 yards and 12 touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, Taylor finished last season with a drop rate of just 2.84 percent on 171 targets.
PFF compared him to Cole Beasley, and had this to say:
While Taylor isn’t getting as much hype as his teammate (Henderson), he’s still an effective receiver who should find a place in the NFL. He’ll never be anything more than a slot receiver, but that’s a very important position in today’s NFL. Taylor is extremely quick with strong hands, and knows how to read a defense and find openings. He’s a guy that plays with a chip on his shoulder that will motivate him against bigger NFL athletes. He should be able to contribute as a slot receiver fairly quickly.
NFL.com had this to say:
High-volume target with great hands and an ability to punch well above his weight class in the toughness department. Taylor's production is impressive, but his size and lack of explosive punt return talent could make his path to an NFL roster challenging.
1. First round: Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford
2. First round: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
3. Third round: Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
4. Third round: C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa
5. Fourth round: Joe Williams, RB, Utah
6. Fifth round: George Kittle, TE, Iowa
7. Fifth round: Trent Taylor, WR, Louisiana Tech
8. Sixth round: Baltimore Ravens (Jeremy Zuttah trade) - No. 14 (198 overall)
9. Sixth round: Denver Broncos (Vernon Davis trade) - No. 18 (202 overall)
10. Seventh round: New Orleans Saints - No. 1 (229 overall)