SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver Quinton Patton of Louisiana Tech with the first of their two fourth-round selections in the NFL draft Saturday.
The pick continues San Francisco’s offseason upgrade at the receiver position, where the 49ers earlier this year traded a sixth-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens to acquire veteran Anquan Boldin.
The 49ers are looking for more help for the team’s No. 1 wideout, Michael Crabtree, who had a career season in 2012. San Francisco isn’t expected to re-sign free agent Randy Moss, and complementary receivers Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams both are coming off serious knee injuries suffered late last season.
The team also got nothing out of its first-round selection in last year’s draft, A.J. Jenkins, who did not catch a pass during his rookie season. Patton is expected to immediately compete for playing time after recording 104 receptions for 1,392 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior last season.
