49ers roster: 5 players under most pressure to perform at OTAs

The 49ers kick off organized team activities this week, and these five players will be under the most pressure to perform well early.

The San Francisco 49ers will do something they weren’t able to do a year ago at this time: actually have on-field workouts during their organized team activities.

The pandemic relegated OTAs to online meetings in 2020, and it was pretty clear across the league many a player and team struggled with the lack of practical reps and on-field exercises. And while these padless practices come nowhere close to matching the intensity and challenge of training camp to be held later this summer, they’re still going to be awfully important.

OTAs officially begin on Monday, May 24, and will run through Thursday, June 10.

Despite an earlier statement from the NFLPA, saying the Niners would have “many in our locker room” not participating in voluntary workouts, roughly 80 players elected to show up anyway for the first phase of offseason programs, according to the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman.

While the exact practice roster isn’t yet known, it’s pretty safe to say these five players will be under the gun to impress early if they want to make a good impression.

No. 5: 49ers WR Jauan Jennings

A year ago, then-rookie wide receiver Jauan Jennings was considered a steal, having been selected in Round 7 of the NFL Draft after many thought he could potentially be a day-two pick.

But Jennings, who was known for his physicality and not for his speed, was clearly one of the many first-year players who needed on-field practice workouts. By the time training camp rolled around, his route-running skills were sluggish and ill-coordinated. All that led to him failing to make the 53-man roster and instead spending 2020 on the practice squad.

The battle for depth spots at wide receiver entering this season remains wide open, meaning Jennings has a path to secure a possession-type receiver role behind the two starters, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

It’s a crowded position group, though, including veterans like Mohamed Sanu and Trent Sherfield, who’ll also be gunning for one of perhaps three, maybe for spots on the roster.

If there’s ever a time for Jennings to stand out and show improvement, OTAs will provide it.