49ers roster: KeeSean Johnson has dim hopes of making 2022 squad

The 49ers have plenty of depth wide receivers entering training camp, meaning KeeSean Johnson likely faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.

It’s not too hard to figure out who will comprise the top five wide receivers on the San Francisco 49ers’ 2022 roster heading into the regular season.

No one is questioning All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel being there, supported by fellow wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. And the Niners are assuredly slating in both the offseason free-agent pickup, Ray-Ray McCloud, while looking to develop their third-round rookie, Danny Gray.

Five spots taken out of a likely six head coach Kyle Shanahan will name to the 53-man roster in Week 1.

This doesn’t exactly paint a promising picture for 25-year-old three-year veteran wide receiver KeeSean Johnson.

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Generated 6/25/2022.

Originally the Arizona Cardinals’ sixth-round NFL Draft choice out of Fresno State, the Northern California native was buried fairly deep on the Red Birds’ depth chart before being waived in August of 2021, then joining the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad that year.

San Francisco inked Johnson to a reserve/future contract in late January of 2022.

That move was before the 49ers’ new additions of McCloud and Gray, among others, meaning Johnson will face some pretty stiff competition in training camp if he hopes to make the regular-season roster.

Let’s take a look at what he faces between now and that decision point.

Why KeeSean Johnson finds a home with 49ers in 2022

On the surface, the 6-foot-1 and 201-pound receiver looks to have all the intangibles of a possession receiver, and he did display some notable production during his collegiate years, including back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2017 and 2018.

Strength and physicality are both on his side, too, and one of the points made out in his 2019 NFL Draft scouting profile noted how he can win those crucial 50-50 balls.

It’s surely possible the context of his entry into the NFL, namely being on teams where there wasn’t exactly room for his production, kept him from making a statistical impact.

Getting into an offense like that of Shanahan’s should, at least theoretically, help.

Why KeeSean Johnson has difficulty latching on with 49ers

There are three primary elements working against Johnson heading into training camp.

For starters, the back end of the Niners’ wide receiver room is already crowded, which will make it tough for him to earn reps. Additionally, Johnson isn’t particularly known for any sort of prowess on special teams, having played just 11 special teams snaps during his pro career.

Beyond all that, Johnson’s sluggish 4.6 40-yard time from his 2019 NFL Scouting Combine won’t put him into the speed conversation against other depth wideouts on San Francisco’s roster, such as Malik Turner and Marcus Johnson, who do have both speed and special teams abilities in their skill sets.

Simply put, those shortcomings might prove too difficult to overcome.

Chances KeeSean Johnson makes 49ers’ 53-man roster

On that reserve/future contract, KeeSean Johnson could make up to $895,000 this season, according to Over the Cap, yet he carries zero in guaranteed money and would cost the 49ers nothing in dead money if he’s waived again.

Factoring in the lack of speed, one might figure the Niners are using him as a positional/role backup to Jennings, whose own speed isn’t particularly great but is made up for being a quality possession receiver with a knack for making big plays when they count the most.

There’s still that No. 6 spot on the depth chart, though, meaning Johnson could feasibly outperform players like Turner, Marcus Johnson, Austin Mack, Taysir Mack and Tay Martin.

However, given there’s probably just one spot left available for all those receivers, one doesn’t have to look too far beyond the numbers game to set long odds for KeeSean Johnson to survive the cut.

What’ll likely happen is Johnson appears late in each of San Francisco’s preseason games but winds up finding himself as part of the many roster cuts leading into Week 1.