San Francisco 49ers: Predicting wide receiver depth chart, 2018 stats
By Aaron Tan
WR4: Dante Pettis
I was initially fairly disappointed when the 49ers traded up in the second round to snag receiver Dante Pettis out of Washington in this year’s NFL Draft. Cornerback Josh Jackson was still on the board, and I thought that he filled a bigger need on the team.
However, after watching Pettis on the field in camp and preseason, I believe that he will actually turn out to be another draft steal from Lynch and Shanahan.
How can an early second-rounder be a steal unless he’s really good? Well, Pettis will be really good and the future WR1 for the 49ers.
His route-running abilities is absolutely insane. On my interview with Ronbo Sports, I said that there are three receivers who have this special way of running routes and are, by far, the best route runners in the league — Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and Dante Pettis.
If you watch all of them, they don’t just run their routes. They glide like ballerinas, which sounds like a hilariously terrible comparison, but it’s true. All three of these receivers glide across the field, and as a result, burn cornerbacks.
Unfortunately, Pettis is buried as the WR4 on the depth chart. But Kyle Shanahan knows his potential and will put him on the field to utilize him as much as possible.
Oh yeah, and Pettis holds the NCAA record for punt-return touchdowns. So he will get his fair share of scores this season.