The 49ers are in the middle of the offseason. The players are getting back into the groove of everything. A lot of the players showed up for this training camp which is amazing. This is great for all of the players to get used to playing together again after the break. While a lot of 49ers news this offseason has been about the quarterback position, let’s take a look at a different position group that hasn’t been getting a lot of focus: the wide receiver group. There are a lot of young guys in the team’s wide receiver group. There are not a lot of veterans on the team at that position. Let’s get started in breaking down this group starting with Brandon Aiyuk.
Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon came into the league last season. He had a solid season with 60 receptions for 748 yards. As a rookie that is a pretty solid start to his career. Aiyuk had to deal with not having his starting quarterback as well. The 49ers traded up in the 2020 Draft to take him in the first round. He is very athletic and fits into Kyle Shanahan’s scheme very well. He has a lot of talent and 49ers fans are hoping with a healthy team and quarterback that Aiyuk will have a breakout season this year.
Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel was drafted in the second round in the 2019 NFL Draft. He had a really good rookie season with 57 receptions for 802 yards. He was a very reliable target for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2019. 49ers fans were very excited for his second season as he showed a lot of promise in his first year. Deebo struggled a lot with injuries in his second season. He was in and out a lot during the season. Despite his injury concerns, Deebo has a lot of promise. The 49ers have some really good and young wide receivers with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
Richie James
Richie James flashed majorly in the late-season game against Green Bay last season. Richie has been a reliable backup receiver for the 49ers the last few seasons. He is fast and has experience as a kick returner as well. This season Richie has a shot at earning him a spot as a starter. He is quick and great in the slot. He is a late-round draft pick who has worked hard to stay on the 49ers roster.
Mohamed Sanu
Mohamed Sanu is one of the few veterans on the roster. He was drafted in the 2012 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He has moved from place to place over his career. Sanu is definitely on the older side as well. While the 49ers are filled with young talent Sanu brings a lot of experience to the younger guys in the group. While he may be heading towards the end of his career, he still has a lot to offer the younger members of the team.
Other players
While the four mentioned above have the best shot to make the roster there are some other players who are on the edge. Jalen Hurd who has dealt with some serious injuries the last couple of years. Juan Jennings who was a very late pick will be working to earn a shot at the roster. Travis Benjamin, who knows Kyle Shanahan’s system, will have to work for a roster spot. River Cracraft who showed some flashes last season when players were injured. Now there is talk that the team will try to trade for star receiver Julio Jones, but nothing has been announced yet. These are some of the guys who will fill in some of those backup roles or if possible go to the practice squad.
In the end, there are a lot of talented wide receivers on the roster. Personally, I think it’s interesting that the 49ers didn’t draft a wide receiver this past draft. Honestly, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are going to be a focal point this season with the other players filling in when needed. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have done a great job building this roster that I trust a lot of their judgment, and I personally can’t wait to see the wide receivers this upcoming season.