San Francisco 49ers: Early 53-man roster predictions for 2018
By Peter Panacy
Wide Receiver (6)
No. 1 Wideout: Pierre Garçon, Dante Pettis
No. 2 Wideout: Marquise Goodwin, Kendrick Bourne
Slot: Trent Taylor, Richie James
Well, the 49ers surely have a fun competition brewing at wide receiver.
Right now, the Niners are carrying 12 wideouts on their roster, and it’s unlikely they’ll keep more than six during the regular season. A few could be stashed on the practice squad, but this figures to be one of the top competitions to watch during training camp.
Second-round draft pick Dante Pettis is a name to watch, and NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks felt he’d be in line to reach 1,000 yards this season.
Pettis might not start over veterans Pierre Garçon or Marquise Goodwin right away. And it’s unlikely he totally unseats third-down slot weapon Trent Taylor either.
But the important thing to remember here is Kyle Shanahan doesn’t utilize the traditional WR1, WR2, slot, WR4 sets you’d typically see in most offensive depth charts. Shanahan will put together various packages maximizing each receiver’s talents and abilities, therefore creating a mix of options for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Initially, we likely see Pettis act as a return specialist, gradually working his way towards a more prominent role on offense.
Keep an eye on MTSU’s Richie James — a seventh-round draft pick, who was a standout during 49ers rookie minicamp.