Niner Noise
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49ers 53-man roster predictions ahead of first preseason game vs. Packers

By Robert Morrison

Jan 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (41) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the first half in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (41) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the first half in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

49ers Wide Receivers (5)

WR Deebo Samuel

WR Bradon Aiyuk

WR Jauan Jennings

WR Danny Gray

WR Ray-Ray McLoud

PS: WR Tay Martin, WR KeeSean Johnson

This may sound like a broken record by now, but training camp seems to have solidified the Niners’ receiver group as well.

Now that Deebo Samuel has signed his lucrative new contract, he steps in next to camp MVP Brandon Aiyuk as the top two wideout targets for Trey Lance heading into 2022. Jauan Jennings is also having a solid camp and appears to be locked in as the Niners’ third wide receiver option after he caught 24 passes in his first full NFL season, 15 of which went for first downs.

The fact of the matter is that Kyle Shanahan doesn’t often utilize more than three receivers at a time, so the 49ers are unlikely to keep more than five at the position, leaving just two slots left at Samuel, Aiyuk, and Jennings.

Rookie Danny Gray stands a good chance of making the roster due to his special skill: He’s very fast and can stretch the field in ways nobody else on the team can. He’ll have to show he has value on special teams as well, though, but given the draft capital the Niners spent on Gray (he was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of SMU), he seems likely to stick around.

That leaves one final spot, and free-agent signing Ray-Ray McLoud appears to be in the pole position to take the slot. Much of this comes down to his experience as a returner on special teams, as the former Steeler, Panther, and Bill has averaged 9.5 yards per punt return and 22.4 yards per kickoff return over his career.

McLoud is also coming off his most productive season as a receiver in 2021, pulling in 39 catches for 277 yards for Pittsburgh, so he could prove to be a valuable option out of the slot for Shanahan.

As for the practice squad, the Niners will keep at least one, maybe two receivers there, with names like Tay Martin and KeeSean Johnson being particularly interesting on that front, but it could be any number of options.