C.J. Stroud expressed his disappointment after the San Francisco 49ers selected Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the NFL draft. Stroud, the Houston Texans quarterback, had hoped Pearsall would be available when the Texans picked at No. 42.
"He's elite," Stroud said. "Especially in that offense, man. Kyle is going to dial it up for him. That's why I felt like he was going to fit our system so well."
"I wanted him bad. … He's nasty, bro. … I'm not saying I'm some guru, but I know routes when I see them. And I know football players."
Pearsall, who spoke with Stroud before the draft, said he respected Stroud's game and that Stroud had been watching film of him.
Stroud addressed a knock on Pearsall's size, referencing a game where Pearsall had two catches for 72 yards against Missouri's press-man coverage.
"I don't care if you press him," Stroud said. "You put on the Missouri game. They (used) press-man (coverage) a lot. Bro."
Stroud compa