49ers receiver in strong position to avoid familiar rookie trap after impressing in training camp

The 49ers have consistently seen receivers struggle to hit the ground running under Kyle Shanahan, but Jordan Watkins is projecting to be different,

The 49ers have consistently attacked the wide receiver position in the draft under Kyle Shanahan and, over the years, many of those wideouts have consistently ended up in the same position early in their careers with San Francisco.

From Dante Pettis, to Brandon Aiyuk (for a large portion of his second season after a decent rookie year), Danny Gray and, most recently, Jacob Cowing, receivers on whom the 49ers have spent not insignificant draft capital have found themselves struggling for early opportunities to prove their worth.

As such, when the 49ers selected Jordan Watkins in the fourth round out of Ole Miss this year, the easy assumption to make would have been to expect him to find playing time hard to come by.

But Watkins caught the eye in OTAs and minicamp, and the former Ole Miss star made one of the highlight plays of Tuesday’s training camp practice, hauling in a reception on a throw over 40 yards downfield from Brock Purdy for a touchdown.

It was a play that served as a perfect illustration of the impact Watkins’ 4.3 speed could have for an offense that has placed an increasing emphasis on dropback concepts that push the ball downfield.

While that speed and some impressively varied route-running, along with a performance in the gauntlet drill at the Combine that highlighted his polish as a pass-catcher, were likely the traits that attracted the 49ers to Watkins, in training camp he has shown an intangible that could lead him to getting on the field more than anticipated as a rookie.

Asked about Watkins’ progress this week, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said:

“Another guy we’re impressed with mentally. He did a good job in the spring, obviously he had a good OTAs, but coming back and just starting to stack days and stack in the mental, that’s the strain on a rookie. Obviously, the strain on your body, but then the mental strain of come showing up to practice every day and being on it. And he does that, right? He has shown that he can handle the mental load. He does a really good job and he’s just got to keep getting better and keep showing up to practice and getting after it.”

There is a long way to go for Watkins, who will likely at least have Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings ahead of him on the depth chart to start the season, with his exact position in the pecking order dependent on Aiyuk’s recovery from his serious knee injury and the league discipline potentially facing Demarcus Robinson.

But the mental strain has been the issue that has prevented several 49ers receivers from hitting the ground running under Shanahan in years gone by. If Watkins continues to prove he can handle it and goes on to shine in preseason, then he could make a significant impact much sooner than anticipated.