How each SF 49ers 2020 NFL Draft pick improves in 2021

SF 49ers need Charlie Woerner to improve his route-running

Kyle Shanahan puts a lot of emphasis on his receiving targets being excellent route-runners, although that wasn’t going to be the initial plan for tight end Charlie Woerner when the SF 49ers selected him in Round 6 of the draft.

Woerner established himself as one of college football’s best blocking tight ends at Georgia, and he was going to replace the veteran, Levine Toilolo, who left for the NY Giants via free agency earlier that March.

Toilolo only saw use when Shanahan would deploy jumbo-like packages, and one figured Woerner would be used in a similar fashion. But as far as being on the field for anything else other than obvious rushing downs, Woerner wasn’t going to be a factor.

Putting it bluntly, Woerner was an atrocious route-runner during training camp, and that certainly impacted him being limited to a mere 11 percent of offensive snaps during the regular season, almost entirely weighted to the end of the year. He did get three receptions for 36 yards, though, so there’s a glimmer of hope here.

Just like Javon Kinlaw and Colton McKivitz, Woerner could have benefited from a full offseason program.

That’ll certainly be his focus heading into year two where he could see his role increase a bit depending on how polished he becomes.