SF 49ers: Post-free agency 53-man roster projection

SF 49ers Wide Receivers (6)

Deebo Samuel

Brandon Aiyuk

Jalen Hurd

2021 Rookie

Travis Benjamin

Trent Sherfield

Yet another group that’s pretty well set across the top, but with lots of room for competition for the deeper depth chart roles

Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are locked here, and fans of the SF 49ers will look forward to finally seeing them on the field together, something that was missing for most of last season. The YAC Bros (well, two-thirds of them) should be ready to go for 2021.

Beyond that, it gets interesting.

Third-year wideout Jalen Hurd has yet to be healthy but is the embodiment of Kyle Shanahan’s dream of a so-called big-slot position. If he’s fully recovered from his injuries, Hurd is certainly going to have a role on this team in 2021.

The wide receiver class in the draft is quite deep this year, so I’d expected the Niners to avail themselves of at least one of the players in that group, possibly on day two, in order to act to their dynamic playmakers. A more prototypical slot receiver might be in play or they could look to add another outside guy to replace now-New England Patriot Kendrick Bourne.

The last two slots here are interesting.

Travis Benjamin opted out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been with Shanahan before and adds something this team doesn’t have at the position: veteran leadership. He’s also still one of the team’s better downfield threats.

The last place could go a lot of different directions, with players like Richie James, River Cracraft, and Kevin White fighting for it, but in the end, it looks like newly signed Trent Sherfield might have a leg up due to his role as a key special teamer, even if that’s the only way he sees the field.