Niner Noise
FanSided

Regrading the 49ers’ 2018 NFL Draft class after one year

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field after injuring his knee during their NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field after injuring his knee during their NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Washington. DANTE PETTIS. B-. . Wide Receiver

In Round 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft, the 49ers traded up to No. 44 overall and grabbed former Washington wide receiver Dante Pettis.

Pettis, arguably college football’s best route runner, also had an NCAA record for punt returns for a touchdown. That gave him a lot of flexibility, yet head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed more intent on keeping Pettis as a part of his offensive plans, mostly.

Still, Pettis suffered a knee injury early in the season on a punt return, which all but eliminated him from being used in this capacity for the rest of the year.

It also hindered his rookie-year development, too, as Pettis had just 108 receiving yards on seven receptions, plus a touchdown, over his first 10 weeks.

Once healthy, however, Pettis started to show the signs why the Niners moved up to grab him. Despite the lowish numbers early on, Pettis finished with a solid 467 yards and five touchdowns on the season, averaging 71.8 receiving yards over his final five games.

That’s the kind of production the Niners are hoping for in coming years, which boosts Pettis’ grade up from being merely an average pickup.