No. 1: Naming Jeff Wilson to SF 49ers’ 53-Man Roster
There was a notable battle at the back end of the Niners’ running back depth chart between the veteran, Jeff Wilson, and the undrafted rookie, JaMycal Hasty.
Hasty was pushing for the fourth and final spot on the depth chart for sure. The 5-foot-8 scatback displayed his multicut abilities to go along with his well-known pass-catching skills he brought over from his college years at Baylor.
And it wasn’t hard to speculate Hasty could push Wilson off the roster altogether.
One of the most popular #49ers among fans, RB Jeff Wilson, has made the initial roster, something he didn't do last season. (Was elevated after Week 1). Wilson is the team's No. 4 tailback.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 5, 2020
That said, Wilson’s value to San Francisco couldn’t be understated. Even though he was scantly used last season, Wilson’s bruising style and underrated receiving skills were already known at the NFL level. He also cut down on the fumbling issues that plagued him early in his pro career.
Despite his upside, Hasty still remains an unknown commodity at the NFL level with no preseason action to determine whether or not he’s capable of going up against varying pro-level competition.
Granted, Hasty is an excellent piece for the practice squad if he clears waivers. It’s possible he takes a similar route to a regular-season roster like Wilson did in previous seasons.
But Kyle Shanahan made the right decision to go with what he knows works, Wilson, instead of gambling on the unknown upside of Hasty.