49ers 2020 7-round mock NFL Draft, Thanksgiving edition

Speaking of a deep wide receiver class, there’s a strong likelihood Kyle Shanahan wants to dive into this talent pool at some point early in the NFL Draft, perhaps on day two and an attempt made easier by the 49ers’ previous trade with the Colts.

Yes, the Niners have made back-to-back Round 2 investments in wide receivers, grabbing Dante Pettis in 2018 and Deebo Samuel in 2019. But Pettis has been a shadow of his rookie self this season, and one has to wonder what his future holds in San Francisco. Samuel is working out nicely. But Emmanuel Sanders is a pending free agent and on the wrong side of 30 years old. His long-term status with the team is uncertain. Other wide receivers, such as Marquise Goodwin, don’t have a clear future, either.

Simply put, the 49ers need even more wide receiver help. And one player who could easily slip into the third round is Minnesota’s Tyler Johnson.

Johnson, 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, is a tremendous route runner — arguably the top trait Shanahan prioritizes among his pass catchers. He can win down in the red zone, too, which is an area in which the 49ers offense has struggled under Shanahan.

With Samuel the long-term, physical prowess on the field, Johnson can complement him for years to come with fluid route running and red-zone prowess.