5 surprising roster cuts 49ers could make after 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers Wide Receiver Jalen Hurd
Look, there’s likely a good chunk of the San Francisco fanbase expecting big things out of the team’s 2019 third-round NFL Draft pick, wide receiver Jalen Hurd, who has yet to step foot on the field for a regular-season snap.
Hurd dealt with a serious back injury his rookie year, then tore his ACL last season. At this point, regardless whether or not it’s with the 49ers, Hurd’s primary goal for his NFL career is to merely stay healthy.
Granted, the Niners didn’t draft a wide receiver. So, that works in Hurd’s favor. Yet the addition of Austin Watkins could potentially shake things up in that department.
Watkins, 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, has a similar build to Hurd. And unlike Hurd, who was a converted running back and only spent one year at wide receiver before going pro, Watkins is a proven pass-catcher at the collegiate level, albeit within a small-school program, yet was pretty dominant in 2019 with over 1,000 yards receiving.
There’s a good chance San Francisco’s patience with Hurd has run out. And if Watkins thrives during offseason programs, it could be him getting the roster nod over Hurd.