Tennessee Vols: Draft analyst gives strong opinion on Jauan Jennings making 49ers roster
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. But just because Jennings was drafted, doesn't mean he's guaranteed a spot on the 49ers' roster in 2020. Seventh round picks might have a small advantage over undrafted free agents, but they still […]
Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
But just because Jennings was drafted, doesn't mean he's guaranteed a spot on the 49ers' roster in 2020.
Seventh round picks might have a small advantage over undrafted free agents, but they still typically face an uphill battle in making the team.
San Francisco is going to have a crowded wide receiver room this summer, so it won't be easy for Jennings to secure a spot on the 53 man roster.
The 49ers selected Brandon Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. And they already have Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd and Kendrick Bourne on the depth chart. Those four are pretty much guaranteed spots on San Francisco's roster.
Most teams typically carry six wide receivers. Jennings will likely be competing with Dante Pettis, Travis Benjamin, Richie James and Trent Taylor for the final two wide receiver spots.
Benjamin has plenty of NFL experience and James proved to be a capable returner for the 49ers last season. Pettis, a former second round pick, showed promise as a rookie in 2018 before suffering a knee injury near the end of the season. Last season, however, Pettis fell down the depth chart after catching only 11 passes for 109 yards.
There's definitely an opportunity for Jennings to rise above his competition, but the road to a roster spot clearly isn't free of obstacles.
NFL Draft analyst Jim Nagy, however, thinks Jennings is a "virtual lock" to make the 49ers' roster. Nagy cites Jennings' ability on special teams as a reason he should be on the 53 man roster this fall.
Jennings was originally recruited to Tennessee as an athlete that was expected to play quarterback or safety. Former head coach Butch Jones moved Jennings to wide receiver (one of the very few smart position changes Jones made) and the rest is history.
The violent playing style of Jennings — he's a fierce blocker and nearly impossible to tackle — is the reason analysts like Nagy feel like the Murfreesboro native could thrive in the NFL.
Jennings probably won't be a player that lights up the stat sheets on a weekly basis, but he's the type of player that football coaches love. He does all the little things that don't show up in the box score.
And that's the reason Nagy believes he'll be playing on Sundays for the 49ers in 2020.
Featured image via Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
