The 49ers in 2020 will return largely the same group of players they took to the Super Bowl last season. It stands to reason that most of last year’s key players will again emerge as essential pieces for San Francisco on both sides of the ball.
There are a handful of players from last year’s roster though that could wind up making a bigger impact in 2020 than they did in 2019. Despite the fact they’ll return most of their stars, the 49ers will need some additional players to step into larger roles next season to repeat a deep playoff run. Here are five players that could wind up securing bigger roles:
WR Dante Pettis
This seems inconceivable given how Pettis’ second NFL season went. He caught just 11 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a year where he was supposed to emerge as a No. 1 receiver. In fact, he fell so far out of the rotation that he wasn’t even active for the Super Bowl.
It’s easy to just give up on the former second-round pick, but he flashed enough toward the end of his rookie year to provide some optimism that he can be a contributor in a good receiving corps. It’s a make-or-break third season for Pettis, who’ll go into the year battling for a roster spot. If he responds well to that challenge, he could emerge as a reliable target in a receiving corps that desperately needs a playmaker or two to step up.
DB Tarvarius Moore
There was some speculation going into the offseason that the 49ers could let Jimmie Ward go in free agency and stick Moore into the starting free safety role. San Francisco brought Ward back on a long-term deal, but health remains a big question mark for the safety who’s played only one 16-game season in his six-year career.
The starting job will be Ward’s as long as he’s on the field, but Moore is the clear-cut No. 1 option to replace him. Good free safety play is part of why the 49ers’ pass defense was so dominant a season ago. If Ward goes down and Moore is pushed into the starting job, there’ll be an expectation that the drop off isn’t steep. Whether Moore performs if called upon would be key in the 49ers’ staying on track if they’re without their starting free safety.
OL Daniel Brunskill
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Brunskill wins the starting right guard job after Mike Person was released this offseason. He was the top backup for that spot last season, and performed well in his first stint along the interior.
There’s an opportunity for the 49ers to really bolster their interior line play though if Brunskill wins the job and takes a step forward in his second year with the 49ers. Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was a 49ers killer in the Super Bowl, and improved play along the interior is as big of a difference maker as improved weapons for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. If Brunskill provides an upgrade over Person, San Francisco’s offense could reach a new level next season.
TE Ross Dwelley
The 49ers chased tight end Austin Hooper in free agency according to reports. Adding another tight end makes sense, but the options in free agency and the draft are going to be slim. Perhaps they do bring in another player or two to slot in behind George Kittle on the depth chart, but Dwelley’s experience in the offense will make him the likely TE2 for the second consecutive season.
Dwelley last season displayed a ton of versatility filling in as the second tight end, starting tight end and at fullback. He posted 91 yards and two touchdowns on 15 catches last year. That productivity could see an increase in 2020 if the team lacks viable talent behind Kittle. Dwelley isn’t in danger of earning a Pro Bowl nod, but he might wind up playing a more prominent role as a pass catcher when he is in the game.
WR Trent Taylor
There was a chance Taylor was going to be one of the 49ers leading wide receivers last season before a preseason foot injury and ensuing complications from it knocked him out for the year. His rapport with Jimmy Garoppolo, his toughness, and his ability to gain separation in tight areas will make him a receiver to watch again this season.
His size and skill set limit him to working almost exclusively out of the slot, so Taylor won’t be on the field very often. However, he is an additional third-down machine to pair with Kendrick Bourne to help extend drives and keep the 49ers’ offense on the field. Taylor is never going to be a monster from a production standpoint, but his presence on the field would be a significant addition to the passing game.
