Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 4 guys they should keep, 4 guys they should ditch

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 and safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers react after breaking up a pass intended for wide receiver Pharoh Cooper #12 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 and safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers react after breaking up a pass intended for wide receiver Pharoh Cooper #12 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 8
Next
Marquise Goodwin, 49ers
Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Ditch: Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin

Keeping Emmanuel Sanders would all but guarantee a still-crowded wide receiver room in 2020.

Just because there are a lot of names, though, doesn’t mean the 49ers should avoid going through some notable shakeups between now and the start of next season. And two names in particular come to mind: Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin.

Pettis, scuffling in his second year at the pro level, is arguably more safe than the veteran, Goodwin, who has been nary a factor since his near-1,000 yard season with San Francisco back in 2017. While injuries and personal tragedies have prevented Goodwin from hitting his stride the last two years, there isn’t getting around the basic fact he hasn’t provided the much-needed impact Kyle Shanahan and the offense wanted over the past two years.

In a way, Sanders all but pushed Goodwin to the periphery this season. If Sanders returns, well, there you go.

Goodwin is still signed through 2021, but the contractual terms next year make it fairly easy to move on. Cutting him this offseason would free up $3.875 million in cap space with only $1.25 million in dead money.

The Niners are getting into that questionable area with salary cap space, meaning Goodwin’s recent and then-expected production levels don’t justify the dollar amount.