The 49ers receiving corps is perhaps their biggest question mark going into training camp.
It’s a group that needed an overhaul this offseason. Two draft picks and a free agent signing later, San Francisco is primed to have a much different group of pass catchers in 2019.
Here’s an early look at their new receiving corps as they get set to begin training camp:
The roster
Marquise Goodwin
An injury in Week 1 kept Goodwin from ever hitting his stride last season, and his production suffered after a breakout 2017 campaign. He had just 23 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games. His productivity should see an uptick with Jimmy Garoppolo back under center. He had 29 catches for 384 yards and one touchdown in Garoppolo’s five starts in 2017.
Dante Pettis
Pettis dealt with a pair of knee injuries last season that limited him to just 12 games. He still managed to produce near the end of the year once he got healthy and more comfortable in the offense. The second-round pick had 27 catches for 467 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie.
Deebo Samuel
San Francisco used a second-round pick on a receiver for the second year in a row when they scooped up Samuel at No. 36 overall in this year’s draft. He was a do-everything, yards-after-catch monster for South Carolina. In four years with the Gamecocks, he put up 148 receptions, 2,076 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added seven scores on the ground with 154 yards on 25 carries. Samuel did some kick returning. He notched four kick return touchdowns in 42 tries.
Trent Taylor
Back surgery last offseason wound up impacting Taylor more than originally anticipated. The former fifth-round pick backed up a promising rookie campaign with only 215 yards and a touchdown on 26 catches. He also thrived with Garoppolo at the helm in 2017 when he had 17 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown in the five-game stretch.
Jalen Hurd
The 2019 third-round pick could wind up being the most interesting player on San Francisco’s roster in the next season or two. Hurd was a running back at Tennessee for three years before transferring to Baylor to play wide receiver. The Bears used the 6-5, 225-pound Hurd as a slot receiver and a short-yardage back, and San Francisco will likely do the same. He had 69 catches for 946 yards and four touchdowns in his one year at receiver.
Jordan Matthews
It looked like San Francisco might dip into the free agent receiver market, but Matthews was their only signing at the position. He’s a versatile player who can play all three positions in the 49ers’ offense. He’s also looking to revitalize a once promising career. He averaged 75 catches for 891 yards and six touchdowns his first three years. In two years since then, he has just 45 catches for 582 yards and three touchdowns.
Kendrick Bourne
The former undrafted free agent has yet to break through in the 49ers’ receiving corps. He managed to lead that group in yards last season with 487. Bourne might carve out a long-term role if he can continue producing like that as a fourth or fifth receiver in an improved group.
Richie James
James’ inability to break through in a banged-up receiver group as a rookie seventh-round pick doesn’t bode well for his chances this year. He had only 12 catches for 75 yards in his first year, but he did have a vital kick return touchdown in Week 15 against the Seahawks.
Malik Henry
Henry spent three years at Georgia Southern before transferring to West Georgia. He had 17 catches for 366 yards as a sophomore at Georgia Southern. His one year at West Georgia was his best, posting 30 catches for 407 yards and seven touchdowns. He signed as an undrafted free agent in April.
Max McCaffrey
McCaffrey was a long shot to make the roster last year, but foot surgery late in August ended his preseason stint with San Francisco. He wound up returning to the practice squad following a four-game suspension for violating league rules. The 49ers added him to the active roster for the final game of the year. His lone reception in the NFL went for 4 yards back in 2017 for the Jaguars.
Shawn Poindexter
There may not be a better combination of size and athleticism on the 49ers’ roster. Poindexter is listed at 6-5, 218 pounds. He’s also a former volleyball player with great leaping ability and the speed to rip off 18.1 yards per reception during his third year in college at the University of Arizona. He took time to acclimate to football, but had 42 catches for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final year with the Wildcats. San Francisco added him as an undrafted free agent.
The skinny
The 49ers’ battle for jobs in the back end of the receiving corps will be among the most fascinating aspects of training camp. It appears Pettis, Hurd and Samuel are all locks. Goodwin is close to a lock. After that, the jobs are mostly wide open.
San Francisco probably keeps six receivers, but they may opt to go for seven in order to keep as much talent on the roster as possible. Bourne has a claim to a spot after leading the receivers in yards last season. Taylor is their best slot option and had a promising rookie year. Matthews is very versatile, and James offers the most on special teams.
Versatility is going to be key this season after the team’s passing attack sputtered following the effects of injuries at the wide receiver position. It also allows the offense to better shuffle personnel with more unpredictability.
The undrafted guys Poindexter and Henry, along with McCaffrey, are much more likely to land on the practice squad than the 53-man roster.
Biggest question
Who’s No. 1? The 49ers don’t have a surefire top option at wide receiver going into camp.
It’s not a huge necessity to have an established No. 1 threat, but a player elevating himself above the rest of the group is going to be key to San Francisco’s passing game taking a step forward this season.
There’s a ceiling on their passing attack if they wind up with a group of three or four receivers who can’t consistently dominate. It’ll take at least one to jump out as the go-to pass catcher on the perimeter both in the red zone and on third downs. It doesn’t matter who it is, the 49ers just need a player to emerge as the established top receiver.
Potential surprise
Jordan Matthews could wind up being a significant contributor for San Francisco this season. He signed the type of deal that indicated he may not be long for a young, crowded group of receivers. Matthews was traded by the Eagles to Buffalo after his third season. He had 25 catches for 282 yards and one touchdown in 10 games for the Bills. The next offseason, he signed with the Patriots but was cut early in training camp after dealing with a hamstring injury. The Eagles re-signed him and he had 20 catches for 300 yards and two scores.
His production over the last two years pales in comparison to his first three seasons in Philadelphia. He had 225 catches for 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns through those first three years.
The 49ers will take advantage of his 6-3, 215-pound frame both in the slot and outside. His versatility should earn him plenty of opportunities in camp. If he winds up on the roster, there’s a good chance he sees significant snaps in the regular season and contributes like he did early in his career.
53-man roster prediction
This is perhaps the most difficult group to figure out when looking ahead to the 49ers’ 53-man roster. There’s the choice of whether to pick six or seven players, and then there’s figuring out which six players to go with.
Pettis, Samuel and Hurd are all locks. Goodwin should make the team as well.
That’s four spots taken, and our last 53-man projection had San Francisco keeping six receivers. That leaves two spots left for Taylor, James, Matthews, Bourne, Henry, McCaffrey and Poindexter.
Taylor figures to land a spot as the primary slot receiver. He can also return punts which helps his stock. For now, Matthews earns our final nod, with Bourne, James, Henry, McCaffrey and Poindexter all on the outside looking in.
Bourne and James certainly have a shot to make the team, especially if they keep seven receivers. The former likely has the inside track if that happens just because he’s put up some production in the offense. However, James is an explosive athlete who can make a difference as a kick returner when he’s not contributing as a receiver.
The battle for those six or seven roster spots should be fierce though, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see these final names change several times throughout camp.
