49ers should move on from these 5 players in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin
2020 Projected Cap Hit: $4,906,250
It still might be a bit too premature to entirely give up on two-year pro wide receiver Dante Pettis, who completely fell out of Kyle Shanahan’s favor over the course of a disappointing 2019. If another team makes an offer, that’s one thing. But Pettis still has the “potential” factor on his side.
Veteran wide receiver Marquise Goodwin might be a different story, though. And it’s a tough one to look at.
In 2017, Goodwin’s first year with the 49ers, he nearly hit 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. And his blazing speed was an aspect which entirely transformed Shanahan’s offense.
Yet injuries and personal tragedies in 2018 and 2019 limited Goodwin to a mere 20 games played and a net of 581 receiving yards over the two seasons. By the end of the season, he was little more than an afterthought.
Goodwin’s future in San Francisco could be contingent on what happens with the pending free-agent veteran, Emmanuel Sanders, who could walk in 2020. Even then, 2019 rookie wideout Deebo Samuel already solidified himself as a bona fide piece to the offense in future seasons. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne seems to have a legitimate role, too.
The Niners may lack a complete wide receiver corps heading into 2020 right now. But one has to figure there won’t be much room for Goodwin if Shanahan elects to bring in another body, either via free agency or the NFL Draft.
Considering the team could save $3.656 million with $1.25 million in dead money against the cap if Goodwin is released, it seems that route would be the most plausible way to go.