Wide receiver was once one of the weakest positions on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster, but at this year’s training camp it is one of the most competitive.
As recently as two seasons ago, a very strong case could have been made for the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver corps being the worst in the NFL. Back in 2016, the Niners were relying on the likes of Torrey Smith and Jeremy Kerley at receiver in a dismal 2-14 season.
But the position, like the majority of the 49ers’ roster, was overhauled by general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan when they took over last year and in this year’s training camp it is difficult to find an area of the team with more competition for playing time. The fight for snaps or, for others, a place on the roster always seemed likely to be intense.
Pierre Garcon made his return from a neck injury this offseason having been reduced to the role of spectator in the second half of 2017 as Marquise Goodwin enjoyed a breakout year. Meanwhile the 49ers spent a second-round pick on Dante Pettis and a seventh on Richie James, adding two more dynamic young pass-catchers to a team that saw both Trent Taylor and Kendrick Bourne excel in their rookie years last campaign.
However, the consistency with which almost every player on the receiving depth chart has produced in training camp has been eye-opening, with a couple of surprise names making their case for a place on the roster.
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Goodwin has proven a near-impossible cover for 49ers cornerbacks in both one-on-one and team periods, with Jimmy Garoppolo — having initially struggled to hit him deep — consistently connecting with the former Buffalo Bill downfield, the pair producing the longest play of the camp on this 75-yard touchdown pass. The performances of Goodwin have seemingly put him in position to usurp Garcon as the de facto No. 1 receiver and, though Garcon has done little wrong himself, another threat to his playing time has emerged in Pettis.
Pettis was incorrectly pegged as solely a slot guy by many heading into the draft. However, he has already begun silencing the doubters, with his knack for using his somewhat unique footwork to gain separation helping him to become a prolific target for all of the Niners’ quarterbacks and earning him praise from the starter, via Niners Nation:
"“He moves differently than most guys. He has some long limbs, long arms, long legs, and it helps him create space with defenders. He has a unique ability – I call it ‘wiggle’ – whatever you want to call it, though. His body moves a certain way, and he explodes out of the break and separates a foot from the guy, and that’s all you need.”"
Former undrafted free agent Kendrick Bourne has continued the upward momentum from the strong finish to his rookie season, his smooth movement during the route and after the catch on display again in camp, lending further credence to talk the 6-1 and 203-pound wideout could be a significant long-term contributor.
Bourne appears a strong bet to make the roster along with locks Goodwin, Garcon and Pettis and, while there should be confidence around Trent Taylor joining them after his 43-catch rookie year, he made his return from back surgery with rookie James having made an early case to take some of his snaps in the slot with an eye-catching start to camp.
As with Pettis, much of James’ success has come as a consequence of his impressive short-area quickness.
Highlight: C.J. dropped a DIME to Richie James (@Senseispunk) 👀 #49ersCamp pic.twitter.com/MCypCYI1Q2
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 27, 2018
Yet, unlike his fellow rookie, he is far from a guarantee for the final 53, particularly given the impression made by some of the receivers who would not have been anticipated to make the roster.
Aldrick Robinson is extremely well-versed in Shanahan’s system but approaches the second and final year of his contract as a likely casualty of the sheer amount of talent at receiver, and highlight plays have been more prevalent from undrafted free agent Steven Dunbar, Max McCaffrey and Aaron Burbridge.
Of that trio it is Burbridge who perhaps poses the greatest threat of sneaking onto the roster, the former Michigan State receiver widely regarded in the NFL as one of the league’s better special teamers.
As 49ers.com’s Joe Fann points out, Burbridge has received some first-team reps and has regularly hauled in passes in one-on-one work and in team drills, the 2016 sixth-round pick earning plaudits from Shanahan for his development as a receiver:
"“He’s really come around as a receiver. He’s in this mix at receiver, not just special teams and he’s been really good in camp so far.”"
This kind of depth in the receiver room is virtually unheard of for a team that has known little other than mediocrity at the position, and it can only be a positive for an offense aiming to maintain the strides made with Garoppolo under center last year.
Garcon is no longer sure of being the top target in the passing game and may have a fight on his hands to avoid being leapfrogged on the depth chart by Pettis. A battle for snaps in the slot appears to be brewing and the scramble to try to claim the final spot on the depth chart is far more competitive than anyone expected.
Iron sharpens iron is a credo this team abides by and at no position on the roster is there more iron in training camp than at wide receiver.