49ers roster: 4 second-year players to watch most in 2021

No. 2: 49ers Wide Receiver Jauan Jennings

It’s understandable why fans were so excited about former Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings after the Niners used their final pick of the 2020 draft on him.

Jennings, despite his sluggish speed, was a tackle-breaking machine in college and had the strength to be a quality possession receiver and red-zone threat where speed isn’t necessarily a top attribute.

But Jennings was another one of those players who was hurt by the lack of a true offseason program, and it showed in training camp. Jennings was lackluster, had focus drops and was nowhere close to being crisp with his route-running skills.

After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, it’s looking more and more like Jennings might not only make the 53-man cut this year but also play a vital role for San Francisco’s offense, as Grant Cohn pointed out from OTAs:

"Beat starting nickelback K’Waun Williams with a 12-yard out from the slot during 11-on-11s, and later caught a 15-yard pass over the middle from Lance during 7-on-7s. If Jennings stays healthy, he will make the team and contribute."

Related Story: Jauan Jennings an early favorite for 49ers No. 3 receiver

The 49ers have an opening for a No. 3 wideout on the depth chart, vacated by Kendrick Bourne leaving during the offseason for the New England Patriots.

Jennings has already appeared to have made a massive leap from his rookie season, so even just making the regular-season roster would be impressive.

But it’s looking like Jennings could do much more than that in 2021, making him a key player to watch.