Should the Vikings call about 49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis?
By Luke Parrish
Why a trade could happen
The 49ers have plenty of depth at wide receiver as they enter the 2020 NFL season. They also prefer to run the ball until the defense proves they can stop it, so there is not a severe need for that many receivers. Aiyuk, Samuel, and Kendrick Bourne are all young and cheap and make up quite the nice trio for the 49er offense.
Jalen Hurd, a rookie in 2019, is expected to have a breakout year as he continues his transition to wide receiver. That leaves Dante Pettis as just a guy for the 49ers moving forward, at least it seems to be that way.
Pettis has dealt with a handful of injuries in his short career thus far also. He has appeared on the injury report for five separate injuries, missing seven games in two seasons. His playing time and production took a huge hit in 2019, leading many to wonder what his status would be for the upcoming season.
As a rookie, Pettis caught 27 balls for 467 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. In 2019, he appeared in 11 games and caught 11 passes for 109 yards and just two touchdowns.
Putting his numbers together, however, gives a promising look at what he can become. He has seven touchdowns on just 38 career catches while averaging 15.2 yards per catch. The big-play ability is there, and he has the speed to take the top off the defense.
With plenty of talent and a high ceiling, the Minnesota Vikings should be interested if the 49ers do indeed shop Pettis. He will be signed through the 2022 season for a cap hit of roughly $2 Million.