49ers’ biggest needs after picking Ricky Pearsall

SANTA CLARA — In selecting Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night at No. 31 overall, the 49ers created a further level of intrigue as to the status of incumbents Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

In the meantime, they bypassed players at perceived positions of need — namely edge rushers, defensive tackles, cornerbacks and offensive tackles. Coach Kyle Shanahan said things aren’t always as they seem, and saw Pearsall as a fit to the wide receiver corps even with Aiyuk and Samuel still around.

Pearsall, Shanahan believes, has the versatility to play outside or in the slot, plays with the physicality the 49ers demand from their wide receivers and can also return punts.

“There’s like four positions we were interested in being the right pick at No. 31, and we had arguments for every single one,” Shanahan said. “When it gets there, you’ve got to take the one that makes the most sense and it’s as simple as what’s totally obvious right now . . . you package these guys, two wideouts, one wideout, three, sometimes four . . . we lost a punt returner, there are plenty of factors.”

The draft begins Friday at 4 p.m. with Rounds 2 and 3, with the 49ers scheduled to select at No. 63 in the third and No. 94 in the fourth.

A look at who went off the board while the 49ers were waiting on Pearsall and some potential Day 2 targets Friday:

EDGE RUSHERS

15. Laiatu Latu, UCLA, Indianapolis

17. Dallas Turner, Alabama, Minnesota

19. Jared Verse, Florida, L.A. Rams

21. Chop Robinson, Penn State, Miami

27. Darius Robinson, Missouri, Arizona

Day 2 possibilities

Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

Adisa Isaac, Penn State

Austin Booker, Kansas

Chris Braswell, Alabama

Bralen Trice, Washington

Jonah Elliss, Utah

Gabriel Murphy, UCLA

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

16. Byron Murphy II, Texas, Seattle

Day 2 possibilities

Johnny Newton, Illinois

Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson

Kris Jenkins, Michigan

Mike Hall Jr., Ohio State

Braden Fiske, Florida State

Maason Smith, LSU

Brandon Dorlus, Oregon

Mekhi Wingo, LSU

T’Vondre Sweat, Texas

CORNERBACKS

22. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, Philadelphia

24. Terrion Arnold, Alabama, Detroit

Day 2 possibilities

Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Mike Sainristil, Michigan

Ennis Rakestraw,Missouri

T.J. Tampa, Iowa State

Andru Phillips, Kentucky

Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

Max Melton, Rutgers

DJ James, Auburn

Caelen Carson, Wake Forest

Jarvis Brownlee, Louisville

Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

5, Joe Alt, Notre Dame, L.A. Chargers

7. JC Latham, Alabama, Tennessee

11. Olu Fashanu, Penn State, N.Y. Jets

14. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, New Orleans

18. Amarius Mims, Georgia, Cincinnati

20. Troy Fautanu, Washington, Pittsburgh

25. Jordan Morgan, Arizona, Green Bay