San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who could lose jobs after 2020 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis
In a sense, third-year wide receiver Dante Pettis lost his job in 2019 after putting up impressive numbers during his rookie season back in 2018. From a probable starter one year all the way to being inactive in Super Bowl LIV, Pettis’ fall from grace was one of the few negative storylines the Niners endured over the course of last year.
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Now, Pettis is in danger of potentially losing a roster spot.
San Francisco essentially has just two proven wideouts on its roster heading into 2020: Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne. In addition, the team is hoping for formerly injured wideouts, Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd, to make a solid return and contribute adequately enough.
Tack on the two draftees, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, and it’s not hard to see why this room is awfully crowded.
Teams typically carry no more than six wide receivers on a 53-man roster, and a simple math exercise can provide evidence Pettis is in danger of missing out on this upcoming campaign. Plus, getting out of Kyle Shanahan’s proverbial “doghouse” isn’t an easy feat, lending even more credence to the idea Pettis’ days in San Francisco are numbered.
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Aiyuk’s presence, in particular, should push Pettis far down the depth chart. If any of the other depth wideouts on the roster outshine Pettis in training camp, it’ll likely spell the end of the former second-round pick’s tenure with the 49ers.