Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Early look at team needs in 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers loses the ball as Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings breaks up the play in the first half of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers loses the ball as Trae Waynes #26 of the Minnesota Vikings breaks up the play in the first half of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Pressing Need: Red-Zone Threat

A year ago, head coach Kyle Shanahan employed the NFL’s shortest wide receiver corps, on average, which likely influenced the 49ers finishing 2017 ranked No. 27 in red-zone touchdown efficiency.

2018 didn’t start off on the best foot in this same category, with the Niners going 1-of-4 in the red zone during their 24-16 Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Dante Pettis was the notable addition at wide receiver during this year’s draft. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, however, he’ll have to rely more on his separation and route-running skills to get open within opponents’ 25-yard lines instead of his ability to win 50-50 balls in contested spaces.

That’s not a bad thing, per se, as Shanahan’s offense revolves around getting receivers open instead of winning the one-on-one matchups. Yet even Pettis’ upside doesn’t totally account for the lack of a dynamic red-zone threat.

Pettis and Kendrick Bourne are the two tallest receivers Shanahan has on his 53-man roster right now. And while the offensive system, not necessarily the player, might be the X-factor in converting within this key spot on the field, Shanahan and Co. should seriously explore the idea of bringing in a big-bodied target to establish a threat here.