49ers roster: 4 players who increased stock value during 2021 OTAs

No. 2: 49ers Wide Receiver Mohamed Sanu

San Francisco’s No. 3 wide receiver spot on the depth chart is wide open in the wake of Kendrick Bourne departing via free agency to the New England Patriots earlier this offseason.

On one hand, there’s no clear-cut answer to fill this void. Yet on the other, a couple of players are emerging as top candidates.

Two who are standing out the most are second-year pro Jauan Jennings and the 31-year-old veteran, Mohamed Sanu, who had a brief stint with the 49ers a year ago but looks much more immersed in the offense during OTAs.

Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn explained from one of the practice sessions open to the media:

"Led all players with five catches during scrimmages. Sanu is only 31 years old, and seems motivated to win the No. 3 receiver job, because it’s wide open. And as of now, he seems like the favorite to win it. His only healthy competition is Jauan Jennings, who spent last year on the practice squad."

Sanu was a low-risk addition during the offseason, likely brought in to help mentor some of the younger wideouts on the Niners roster.

But it’s looking more and more like Sanu, who played under Kyle Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, could carve out a spot for himself on the 53-man group by the time Week 1 rolls around.

San Francisco might need Sanu’s presence beyond just his veteran leadership.