Niner Noise
FanSided

5 bold predictions for the 49ers 53-man roster in 2019

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 21: Adrian Colbert #27 and Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers attempt to intercept a pass intended for Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 21: Adrian Colbert #27 and Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers attempt to intercept a pass intended for Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Richie James #13, Kendrick Bourne #84 and Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers look on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Richie James #13, Kendrick Bourne #84 and Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers look on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

No. 5: 49ers Carry Eight Wide Receivers

Typically, most NFL teams will retain six wide receivers on their 53-man roster. Some, highly dependent on special teams, elect to carry seven.

But what about the 49ers retaining eight wideouts heading into the regular season? That can’t be possible, right?

Well, it’s been done before. The Green Bay Packers did this last year, and it isn’t as if Kyle Shanahan’s crop of receivers has boiled down to an easy choice of six or seven.

There are other reasons to keep more wide receivers on the roster, too. Case in point, slot receiver Trent Taylor is dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot. It’s not significant enough to use an injured-reserve slot on him, meaning he’ll likely be inactive the first few weeks of the regular season. It does, however, open up the door — and arguably the necessity — to add some insurance.

Related Story. Rethinking 49ers wide receiver depth chart amid preseason. light

Rookies Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd impressed early during the preseason. Given San Francisco’s early draft investments in each, both are guaranteed a spot. So is second-year pro Dante Pettis. The veteran, Marquise Goodwin, is all but assured a spot, too.

Those are five names worth keeping there. Add in second-year pro Richie James, who has been impressing in camp and serves as a primary backup to Taylor, there’s six. Third-year pro Kendrick Bourne has also impressed in training camp. He looks on the safer side.

The only real question mark is veteran wideout Jordan Matthews.

Matthews, who can play a big-slot role, also has red-zone prowess — something the Niners have lacked under Shanahan the last two seasons. If Taylor was fully healthy, Matthews might be in more danger. But given his team-friendly contract (essentially a paid-per-game deal), it wouldn’t be shocking to see him stick around for the first few weeks of 2019 while Taylor rehabs.