ESPN recently released an article where they rated each team’s No. 1 wide receiver. As you might expect, 49ers receiver Pierre Garçon was given a favorable write-up, but the notion of the 49ers having several weapons now such as Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor, and Dante Pettis, makes Garçon less of a No. 1. Barring an extreme drop in performance, it may be safe to assume he’ll be sticking around with the team in 2019 due to his deal essentially being a three-year deal and the dead money hit the 49ers would take by cutting him.
So that takes us to 2020. Most likely if Garçon were to come back his contract could be restructured as such, but the 49ers have drafted wide receivers aplenty and the young players will be ready to take on more responsibilities.
So who will be their No. 1?
The sleeper candidate is Kendrick Bourne. While some are optimistic Dante Pettis can be the No. 1 of the future, Bourne has been impressing in OTAs and had a solid rookie campaign — especially for an undrafted free agent. He wasn’t ready for what hit him last year and impressed, especially with the coaching staff riding him the way they did (click the link for the story behind that). Now it’s just a matter of if he keeps working. If he does, he could be the next big thing.
Obviously Dante Pettis is another person who could take over in two years. Kyle Shanahan has not minced words saying they plan on playing him in several situations and schemes, moving him around the field and not necessarily one spot. With that mindset, the plan may already be in action to have Pettis as their No. 1 wide receiver.
There also is Marquise Goodwin, who stepped in admirably for Garçon in 2017, almost getting 1,000 yards if not concussed in the final game of the season. If Goodwin can maintain that production after having a career year (where he makes his previous seasons look like disasters) maybe he develops into the number one guy.
That’s just a few names. I doubt in 2020, nearly hitting 34, Garçon returns, but anything is possible.
Who do you think will be the 49ers No. 1 wide receiver in 2020?