INDIANAPOLIS -- It's no secret that the San Francisco 49ers are in the market for a marquee wide receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Jim Tomsula brought along his wide receiver coaches to the Scouting Combine, and general manager Trent Baalke told reporters on Wednesday that the team is looking to find a pass-catcher who can get down the field.
Moreover, many experts predict that the 49ers will address the position with the 15th overall pick on April 30 in Chicago. As Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd enter free agency, the wideout class is clearly a group to keep an eye on throughout draft season.
With that in mind, here's a collection of quotes from the top receiver prospects during their media sessions inside of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Amari Cooper, Alabama
What separates you from the other receivers in this class?
I take good pride in the way I release off the line and come out of my breaks. Those are really the only two ways you can get open. I think that's probably what would separate me from someone else.
What can you improve on?
I think I can be more consistent in everything that I do. There were definitely times when I didn't look the ball all the way through when I should've, which could've propelled me from maybe 200 yards to whatever that catch may have been. There were definitely times when I could've high-pointed the ball, and again that could've made my numbers look better. Just consistency in everything that I do.
Kevin White, West Virginia
What was behind your monster season this year?
Motivation. My junior year, I put bad film out there. That's not the player I am, so going into my senior I wanted to put everything on the line and do what I had to do. I've been telling teams that it finally clicked for me. I know what I have to do now."
If a team were on the clock and they were looking at Amari Cooper and Kevin White, what would your argument be for yourself?
I don't feel like any receiver can do what I do. Whether it's blocking, creating space, taking a tunnel screen to the house, I do it all. I'm not saying that to be cocky, I'm saying it to be confident. I feel like I'm one of a kind.
DeVante Parker, Louisville
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
I believe I can get yards after the catch. I'm able to break tackles. My weaknesses is probably blocking. I need to work on that.
Do you want to hear your named mentioned with Amari Cooper and Kevin White as one of the top WRs coming out this year?
You know I'm a competitor. Those are two good guys that are in front of me. I'm a very good competitor, too, so it's all about competing against each other.
Devin Funchess, Michigan
What strenghts do you bring?
My size, my speed. I got sneaky speed. I get up under defenders real quick. It doesn't look like I'm moving fast, but I cover ground. And then just my athletic ability.
Do you consider yourself a tight end or wide receiver?
I consider myself as a ball player.
How can you help teams in the red zone?
Just a big athletic body that they can just throw the ball up to and go get it.
Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
How would you describe your game?
I'm physical, I'm dominant and I have a huge catch radius. Anything you throw my way, I'm going to go get it. I'm going to work hard every day. The thing about me is that I haven't reached my peak yet. I'm nowhere hear it. I have a lot of coaching left in me, and I look forward to bringing it every day. I'm eager to get out there and compete.
Any analyst compared you to Larry Fitzgerald, do you see the similarities or who do you compare yourself to?
It's just an honor to be compared to someone like that. He's going to finish his career as one of the greatest receivers to play this game. But I wouldn't compare myself to anybody. I bring something different to the table. I take a little bit from everybody's game though. The small guys like Antoinio Brown and the big guys like Brandon Marshall.
Ty Montgomery, Stanford
How important is being able to move around in different formations as a wide receiver?
It's very important. The more you can do, the more value you add to yourself and the team. When I'm running routes, I'm a receiver. When I'm catching balls, I'm a football player. And when I get the ball in my hand, I'm a running back.
Did playing lacrosse help you in football?
I think with any sport, I played basketball, baseball, football, lacrosse, I ran one year of track, I played some soccer growing up as well. Anything you can do to stay active and use different muscles helps you become a better athlete.
Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Tell us what a team would get in you?
One thing a team would get from me is hard work. I mean, just using my physically abilities and being that type of athlete that I can be and just showing everybody what I've been doing the past few years and how I am on the field and just working hard and being the best I can be and giving it my all.
Are you the best receiver in the draft?
There's a lot of great receivers in this draft. I'm not going to stand up here and say I'm the best receiver. I just want to stay humble and I just want to compete. That's one thing I'm going to do is compete against all the receivers and try to outwork every last one of them.
Sammie Coates, Auburn
What have you done to not get pegged as only a vertical WR?
Being a receiver, you work on running routes, and I've always been doing that - we just didn't have the plays always called. I've been running routes since I've been there, it's just the fact that I haven't showcased them on film because it wasn't my role in the offense.
What is the team that drafts you getting?
A great player, a playmaker that will learn to make plays in big situations. I'm a playmaker.
Devin Smith, Ohio State
Why does your big play ability translate to the NFL?
That's what teams need. They need guys who can go and get it. I think I have that ability. I've shown it plenty of times in college so I'm just going to translate that to the next level.
Why do you have a knack for tracking the deep ball so well?
Really it's just pure concentration. A lot of it had to do when I high-jumped throughout my whole career, at Ohio State and high school, the small details of making sure that your steps were always right and it kind of carried over to the football field. Just pure concentration – make sure your eyes follow the ball.
