San Francisco 49ers: 3 possible outcomes for Dante Pettis in 2020

There are rumblings the San Francisco 49ers could move third-year wide receiver Dante Pettis this offseason, yet Niner Noise looks at all the possibilities for the former second-round NFL Draft pick.

In 2018, then-rookie San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis looked like he was a budding start, especially over his final five games.

Last year, however, things fell apart quickly. Beginning in training camp, head coach Kyle Shanahan had some choice words about the Niners’ second-round pick from the previous year’s NFL Draft. Pettis, by all accounts, was going through a rough camp his second season at the pro level. And while there were splashes at times during the regular season, Pettis was soon relegated to an afterthought by the time San Francisco made it into the playoffs.

Pettis was even inactive for Super Bowl LIV.

The 49ers’ wide receiver situation heading towards the 2020 draft is challenging. Second-year pro Deebo Samuel is a shoo-in starter, while tendered restricted free-agent Kendrick Bourne should have a prominent role, as long as another team doesn’t swipe him up.

Behind them, however, the Niners depth is questionable. And Pettis fits into the concerns Shanahan should have about this position.

There’s talk San Francisco could explore trading Pettis during the offseason, and it makes some sense. If Pettis has fallen out of Shanahan’s graces and no longer seems to fit into the team’s long-term plans, it’s worth seeing if the 49ers can get anything in return for him.

That said, Pettis is only 24 years old, and he certainly wouldn’t be the first player to undergo a second-year slump after an impressive rookie campaign.

So, what happens in 2020? Niner Noise looks at three possible outcomes for Pettis.