Why SF 49ers shouldn’t part ways with Dante Pettis yet

The SF 49ers recently released veteran wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, not Dante Pettis. But moving on from Pettis prematurely would be a mistake.

In all likelihood, the SF 49ers aren’t going to get anywhere near the desirable returns on their 2018 second-round NFL Draft investment, wide receiver Dante Pettis. Aside from an impressive finish to his rookie season, Pettis has largely been an underwhelming disappointment in his two-plus years under head coach Kyle Shanahan.

On Tuesday, the Niners parted ways with veteran wide receiver Mohamed Sanu after signing him just three games earlier. The move essentially freed up a roster spot on the depth chart for a position that wasn’t healthy to start the year but is getting more so now.

Particularly with wideouts Deebo Samuel (foot) and Richie James (wrist) returning.

The move prompted many on 49ers Twitter to suggest Shanahan and general manager John Lynch let the wrong player go:

Fair points, yes. Overreactions? Perhaps.

SF 49ers must wait on Dante Pettis a little longer

Sanu was never going to be a long-term option for San Francisco. In his three games with the team, he had one catch for 9 yards and was going to be nothing more than a depth option to guard against further injury to players like Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne.

With Aiyuk and Samuel now taking the reins as the SF 49ers’ top two receivers, Sanu was clearly an odd man out. And in some ways, the Niners did him a favor by allowing him to hit the open market immediately where he can sign on with another receiver-needy team. This would have been a much better option for the veteran over being stashed deep on the depth chart.

As far as Pettis, who has yet to record his first reception in 2020 and has been on the field for a mere 63 offensive snaps (23.1 percent), there certainly doesn’t seem to be a bright future for him with the team.

When James returns, there’s a strong chance Pettis winds up being the next odd man out. The latter hasn’t shown much special teams prowess, despite setting NCAA records for punt-return touchdowns at the University of Washington. Yet Pettis, now three years immersed into the system, at least provides a viable backup to guard against injury.

Granted, if that scenario was to pan out, the Niners’ hopes for the playoffs would all but be erased. But a player like Pettis would have more familiarity with Shanahan’s complex offense than someone signed off the street in, let’s say, Weeks 9,10 or 11. Perhaps later.

Plus, the added caveat of Pettis being only 24 years old and still on a rookie contract, makes him something of a tradable asset. True, San Francisco would not get much of anything in return and would take a loss on the investment.

But something would be better than a pure cut, especially if another team out there thinks Pettis would generate some chemistry with its quarterback, something clearly now lacking in San Francisco.

The NFL trade deadline is Thursday, Oct. 29.