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

Jauan Jennings must separate himself from SF 49ers wide receiver depth

Many considered the seventh-round addition of former Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings an absolute steal. While his sluggish speed seemed to be a non-fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense, the fact Jennings had a habit of breaking tackles and picking up yards after the catch during his college tenure was something that was exciting enough.

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Like Charlie Woerner, though, Jennings’ route-running abilities during training camp weren’t great. And on more than one occasion, he dealt with focus drops and failed to separate himself from a questionable wide receiver depth chart behind players like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, who were going to be at the top anyway.

As a result, and also because of injury, the SF 49ers elected to stash Jennings on the practice squad’s injured reserve list.

Jennings remains an unknown commodity. But the production he had in college, paired with his need to go through a regular offseason program, could result in him showcasing himself as a quality depth piece behind Aiyuk and Samuel. Just like last year, the Niners enter 2021 without clear answers at the position.

And if Jennings turns that proverbial page during the offseason, he could make himself awfully useful to Shanahan’s offense.