49ers post-NFL Draft roster: 5 veterans who may be gone in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Wide Receiver Trent Taylor
The 49ers have an awfully deep wide receiver corps. Yet there aren’t exactly a lot of proven options behind the two proven returning veterans, Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne. While Brandon Aiyuk has first-round promise, and Jauan Jennings has plenty of upside, they’re complete unknowns at the NFL level.
Fourth-year slot wide receiver Trent Taylor doesn’t fall into his category. And anyone who remembers his 19 third-down receptions for a first down back during his rookie season, particularly when paired with Jimmy Garoppolo, can attest to the idea Taylor can be a contributor.
When he’s available, though.
Taylor was banged up for the majority of 2018. And while he managed to get into 15 games that season, his efforts were a far cry from the kind of on-field performance he enjoyed in 2017. Then, despite a strong training camp in 2019, a foot injury and subsequent surgeries meant his third year at the pro level was awash.
The Niners bringing aboard Travis Benjamin, then potentially using Jennings as a big slot, suggest they’re not 100-percent sold on Taylor returning to form.
After all, San Francisco shook up its receiving corps a lot during the offseason. Like Richie James, Taylor could be yet another victim to the numbers game.