5 49ers players who could find themselves cut in 2020
By Peter Panacy
![SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs out on the field during warm ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs out on the field during warm ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c49a5801fa215e765173ef7b6e81e725cb99787d1e1b4fcc6ff0cf4f9dffecf3.jpg)
No. 4: Wide Receiver Dante Pettis
Again, another tougher decision for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. But it isn’t one without reason.
During his rookie year in 2018, wide receiver Dante Pettis showcased enough attributes and abilities to suggest he could be a No. 1 pass-catching threat:
Dante Pettis got off to a sluggish start in 2018. But over his final five games, he averaged 71.8 receiving yards per contest and had four touchdowns.
— Peter Panacy (@PeterPanacy) May 20, 2019
Extrapolated over a 16-game season, that's 1,148 yards and 12 touchdowns. That's entering WR1 territory, folks. #49ers #49wz
All that appeared to fall apart in 2019 training camp, though, which put Pettis in Shanahan’s proverbial “doghouse.”
It’s carried into the regular season, too.
Pettis, whose sophomore season has been marked by drops and a general inability to separate, now finds himself working lower on the depth chart.
“He’s had a number of opportunities,” Shanahan said earlier this week, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “I’m one of the guys that believe in him the most. That’s why he’s here. He’s had his opportunities. The more he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunities, the less opportunities he gets.”
The last part of Shanahan’s statement is what should catch the attention here.
The 2020 NFL Draft class is notably deep at wide receiver. And while San Francisco has already invested two second-round picks in wideouts the past two years, the other being Deebo Samuel, it’s not out question to see another targeted early again.
Even if that doesn’t happen, Pettis surely appears to be running out of opportunities.