49ers roster predictions: Who’s in, out at wide receiver in 2021?

In: 49ers WRs Jauan Jennings and Mohamed Sanu

Veteran wideout Mohamed Sanu was one of the nicer storylines from OTAs, proving his brief cup of coffee with San Francisco last season, in which he caught one pass for 9 yards, was a mere anomaly in an entirely anomaly-like season anyway.

Turning 32 years old later this offseason, Sanu isn’t a long-term answer. But amid a receiving corps predominantly made up of younger players, Sanu can provide some excellent veteran leadership.

Something Brandon Aiyuk singled out last season when Sanu was released.

All accounts from OTAs pointed to Sanu closing the gap on the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, perhaps serving as a big-slot weapon for Kyle Shanahan. Yet Sanu wasn’t alone in the competition, as second-year pro Jauan Jennings also appeared to make massive strides from a 2020 campaign that ultimately saw him fall short, subsequently landing on the practice squad.

Read More: Jauan Jennings an early favorite for 49ers’ No. 3 receiver

Instead of looking sluggish and ill-prepared, Jennings now appears to be a strong, physical weapon who can win one-on-one matchups despite his pedestrian speed.

While the 49ers don’t need to keep two possession-type receivers, per se, it’d be hard to bid farewell to either Sanu or Jennings considering how good they’ve both looked early on.