The 49ers may not be shopping for help at wide receiver right now, but one recent mock draft has them already circling a name worth filing away: Indiana’s Nick Marsh.
Gilberto Manzano’s latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft for Sports Illustrated sends Marsh to San Francisco, and the appeal is easy to see. Marsh brings a rare blend of size, power, movement skills, and route-running polish, the kind of profile that can turn a receiver into a true perimeter problem. Manzano pointed to him as a player who could grow into the 49ers’ next franchise receiver.
“Not only do the 49ers need to get younger, but they also need to add dependable players at wide receiver,” Manzano wrote. “Marsh has the size and skills to be one of the nation’s best perimeter receivers. After starting his collegiate career at Michigan State, the 6'3", 213-pounder could have a dominant junior year in his new surroundings.”
That’s the part worth watching. Mock drafts this far out are shaky by nature, and plenty will change before next offseason even comes into view. But they still serve a purpose: they put names on the radar, and Marsh is one of those names.
What makes him stand out is how complete the package looks. Marsh is built like a battering ram at receiver, yet he moves with surprising quickness and agility for a player his size. He can play through contact, win at the catch point, and turn a routine completion into extra yardage after the catch by simply running through defenders.
Manzano also noted that Marsh didn’t quite become a premier Big Ten receiver at Michigan State, but that could change quickly in Bloomington. He’s coming off a solid 2025 season with 58 catches for 662 yards and six touchdowns, and he’ll now team with Charlie Becker to form what could be the nation’s best receiver tandem.
The strength shows up in every part of his game. Marsh can shield defenders with his body, climb for the football, and work right on the edge when creating separation. He’s also dangerous after the catch, where his physical style can overwhelm would-be tacklers.
There’s more to his game than brute force, though. Marsh is a strong route runner for his size, with the ability to stem defenders and sink his hips smoothly when changing direction. His footwork still needs work in some spots, but he’s already shown he can separate against man coverage.
For San Francisco, the fit makes sense on paper. The 49ers already have talent at receiver, but injuries have been a problem, with Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending surgery and Mike Evans’ recent issues underscoring the need for more stability. Adding another dependable target for Brock Purdy would not be a bad idea at all.
If the 49ers do decide to invest in the position, Marsh looks like the kind of player who could make sense in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and give the group a boost for years to come.
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