5 players the 49ers were right to move on from in 2022
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers were right to move on from wide receiver Travis Benjamin
One of the elements head coach Kyle Shanahan needs to make his offense fully click is a legitimate deep threat.
In 2017 and parts of 2018, the Niners looked to speedy yet oft-injured wideout Marquise Goodwin to fill this role. In 2020, San Francisco hoped to use veteran receiver Travis Benjamin as such, but the pandemic ultimately led to the former Los Angeles Charger opting out that season.
However, Benjamin’s impact in 2021 was minimal, and he saw just five targets with zero receptions over 10 games played.
The 49ers have their No. 1 wide receiver in Deebo Samuel, while fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk is one of the better options against man coverage. Third-year pro Jauan Jennings has a bona fide role as a third-down possession receiver.
Yet it was clear Benjamin wasn’t going to cut it as a deep threat anymore, so the Niners wisely let him walk, subsequently grabbing former SMU wide receiver Danny Gray at the tail end of Round 3 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Gray, with his 4.33 40-yard time, is slated to occupy that role Benjamin was supposed to have, and the hope will be for the rookie to provide much more thump in doing so.