Breakdown: San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Room

The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver room is crowded, with the recent addition of two veterans, what will the depth chart look like?

2019 was not an impressive season for second-year wideout Dante Pettis. Like the Eagles, San Francisco had quite the injury bug going on in their wide receiver core, which led to young players getting opportunities. In 11 games last year, Pettis recorded 11 receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns, he started 4 of those games (via Pro Football Reference). On the Sports Illustrated All49ers page, head coach Kyle Shanahan is quoted saying “He’s had his opportunities. The more he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunities, the less he opportunities he gets. He did get a couple last night because of injury and I didn’t think he made them.” Pettis needs a good year this year or else he can kiss his 49ers career goodbye because, from the sound of it, Kyle Shanahan is getting tired of his low production.

Trent Taylor had a good rookie campaign in 2017. 2018 was a comedown year but Taylor still performed well, then he got injured. Taylor missed the entire 2019 season with a foot injury but the 49ers expect big things from him this year. Let’s dive into his stats. In 29 career games, Taylor has racked up 69 receptions for 645 yards and 3 touchdowns. Taylor is entering the 2020 season trying to make the final roster. No one but Deebo Samuel and first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk are pretty much shoe-ins to make it, leaving Trent to fight for his role.

Jalen Hurd has no stats in the NFL. Hurd was placed on IR in October and has now been cleared for football activity. According to Fansided.com, Jalen is a huge breakout candidate for the 2020 season and rightfully so. Hurd will be playing an outside receiver role because of his smooth route running abilities and great open-field running (Fansided). A big 6’5 target for Jimmy G to throw to along with a big guy in tight end George Kittle. There are a few mouths to feed in San Fran but Hurd will be getting opportunities because of the foot injury that will have Deebo Samuel sidelined for a few weeks and there’s a rookie WR in Brandon Aiyuk. (Update: Torn ACL suffered on August 17, out for season).

Chris Thompson played his last game with the Houston Texans in his 2017 rookie year. Since then he has not been with a team or played a game. In 13 games Thompson recorded five receptions for 84 yards and no scores, he was mainly used as a return man. He had six punt returns for 39 yards and no touchdowns. Kickoff return wise he had 17 returns for 369 yards but no scores(via Pro Football Reference). Thompson will have much to prove but it seems like the 49ers just brought him to field punts and kicks while Richie James Jr is out. Thompson’s competition will be Tavon Austin, who recently signed with the team pending a physical.

Deebo came into his own as the season progressed and the 49ers couldn’t have asked anything more of him. Deebo Samuel put up great rookie year numbers that included 57 catches for 802 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 159 yards and three touchdowns on 14 attempts in 15 games, 11 of those which he started. Deebo had foot surgery over the offseason and is expected to miss 10-12 weeks, which leaves a big gap in the receiving core. After Deebo is cleared to play they will probably ease him in for a few games and he will start playing full time around week 14 or 15, just in time for playoff time. Deebo is undoubtedly the number one receiver in San Francisco, he must live up to that when he comes back.

Currently, Richie James Jr. is on the COVID list and also has a broken wrist, when he comes off and rejoins the team he will resume return duties. Last year James Jr. returned punts and kicks, punt return wise he racked up 33 returns for 264 yards and no score. On kick return duty he finished the season with 20 returns and 428 yards, also no score. In 16 games Richie caught 6 passes for 165 yards and a lone touchdown (via Pro Football Reference). James Jr. is an electrifying returner and should definitely resume duties when healthy. He could also be used on plays like jet sweeps and triple options. In his replacement, the 49ers have Chris Thompson and now recently signed Tavon Austin to fulfill the returner role until he is healthy.

A redshirt five-year senior, Jauan Jennings put up bowl numbers at Tennessee. Jennings recorded a total of 146 receptions for 2246 yards and 19 total touchdowns (via Pro Football Reference). Another big target for Jimmy G standing at 6’3 212 pounds, Jennings doesn’t have good route running abilities but he has amazing hands and when given the chance will flatten players if they are in his way. He is a physical receiver and the 49ers need someone other than Kittle to be a physical force of nature, they found him. If Jennings does make the team he would play special teams and maybe come in as a red zone target due to his size and physical abilities.

After tearing his ACL in the first preseason game of 2019 after catching two passes for 12 yards, Shawn Poindexter is a name to watch during camp. Poindexter can be played at the running back position like teammate Jalen Hurd, also he is among the tallest receiver with Jalen Hurd as they stand at 6’5. If Shawn can put on weight he could probably play tight end along with George Kittle because Jordan Reed gets hurt often and there isn’t much talent at tight end after Kittle.

The 25th overall pick in this year’s draft will have a chance to grab the no. 1 reciever slot to start off the year. Brandon Aiyuk is very comparable to Deebo Samuel: they both have speed,  they’re both downfield threats, have good hands, can be used in the run and return game and are both 6 foot. In two years at Arizona State (junior and senior year), Aiyuk finished with 98 catches for 1672 yards and total 11 touchdowns (via Sports Reference). Aiyuk will have to beat out Jalen Hurd, Shawn Poindexter, and Kendrick Bourne for the no. 1 spot on the depth chart because Shanahan has made it clear he doesn’t trust Pettis and Trent Taylor still has to prove himself along with Jauan Jennings, also Deebo is out for 10-12 weeks so he obviously can’t play. Aiyuk is getting a shot that very few rookie receivers get, even first round picks.

Like Greg Ward, I really like Kendrick Bourne and I don’t know why. Bourne is probably the most likely to have a reserved starting role besides Aiyuk and Samuel. He is a hungry receiver that has proved his worth. In 2019 he caught 30 of 44 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games, he started 0 games(via Pro Football Reference). A breakout candidate for this year, Bourne will be the 49ers red zone target once more in 2020 and will battle with Aiyuk, Hurd and Poindexter for the no. 1 receiver position on the depth chart. The only reason I say Poindexter is because he has height and the potential from the last year but his season was cut short. This is Bourne’s year to earn his next contract, so watch him.

On August 14 (pending physical) Tavon Austin was signed by the 49ers. I imagine Austin was brought in to field punts and kicks due to Richie James Jr. being out. Austin will be competing with Chris Thompson for that return spot and possible slot receiver.  In 2019, Austin recorded 13 catches for 177 yards and 224 yards total and one touchdown. Return-wise he fielded and returned 17 punts for 84 yards and no touchdowns. Austin is a veteran entering a young, unproven receiver group, giving him an edge.

On August 14 the 49ers also signed J.J. Nelson, who only played two games with the Raiders last year. Veteran presence is of utmost importance in this 49ers receiver group, especially with Deebo Samuel out. Over two games last year Nelson had four receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown. Nelson and Austin make the receiver room even more crowded but replace Deebo and James Jr. until they are cleared to come back. J.J. will join Austin in being the veterans in the room.

On August 19 the 49ers sign former Cardinals and Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown. After Jalen Hurd tore his ACL, the 49ers went to free agency to grab another receiver. In seven NFL seasons, Brown has racked up 116 receptions for 1536 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns over the span of 18 starts out of 101 games. Brown could be a training camp body or a legit contender. It’s difficult to tell what the 49ers are doing with all these receivers. For right now I’m going to say that he will not make the roster and will be cut. I just don’t see him outperforming anyone in training camp that is on the list below. Plus I predicted that the 49ers would have three wide receivers on the practice squad. Even three is a high number because there are only 10 practice squad spots.

49ers 2020 WR Depth Chart Predictions

• WR1- Deebo Samuel (When he comes back)
• WR2- Brandon Aiyuk (R)
• WR3- Kendrick Bourne
• WR4- Trent Taylor
• WR5- Shawn Poindexter
• WR6/Returner- Richie James Jr. (When he comes back)

Practice Squad

• J.J. Nelson
• Jauan Jennings (R)
• Dante Pettis

Cut

• Chris Thompson
• Tavon Austin- (After Richie James Jr. comes back)
• Jaron Brown

IR (Injury Reserved)

• Jalen Hurd (Torn ACL) 8/17/20