The San Francisco 49ers' rebuild is complete, and it culminated in a Super Bowl run during head coach Kyle Shanahan's and general manager John Lynch's third season in charge. Now, it's a matter of remaining one of the league's top teams and tweaking the roster enough to finally come away with that elusive sixth championship that the franchise craves.
With the 49ers enjoying much more depth than in previous years, newcomers, like wide receiver Travis Benjamin, will have to work even harder to secure a roster spot. Yes, San Francisco lost Emmanuel Sanders and Marquise Goodwin, but it added first-round draft pick Brandon Aiyuk. The team also hopes to get contributions from two receivers returning from injuries — Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd.
With a roster as deep as the 49ers', no one will be given anything. Benjamin knows that.
"Before I even got off the phone (with the 49ers), we knew on both sides that I was coming in to compete," Benjamin told reporters via a video conference call on Wednesday. "Nothing is given. Everything is earned. And that receiver room, each and every player knows that.
"The first day we met, (receivers coach) Wes (Welker) told every player that since we've got a lot of guys, we've got a first-round pick (in Aiyuk), we've got a couple of guys coming in, this room is going to compete.
"That's what makes this receiving room so much better—that everyone knows they're competing and everyone's helping each other out."
San Francisco, in March, signed Benjamin to a one-year deal. He spent his previous four seasons with the Chargers, both in San Diego and Los Angeles. Before that, he was in Cleveland for four years, with one season (2014) under then-offensive coordinator Shanahan.
"It gives me a slight edge because I know what to expect," Benjamin said. "I know what situation Kyle likes in his offense, and the tempo. He wants to move the ball, the situation the receiver sets. Kyle, the type of player he wants, a guy to just learn and play each position out there."
Benjamin added that he knows Shanahan loves fast receivers and feels he brings a great deal of speed to the position.
The 49ers' offensive system isn't foreign to Benjamin, and he recognizes much of it from his time in Cleveland. The names of plays and routes may have evolved, but it's definitely familiar.
Benjamin was very honest in sharing why he decided to sign with San Francisco. The team's success last season may have influenced that decision.
"I'm getting up in age," Benjamin said, "and up in years playing football, and I just want to win. That's what brought me to the organization."
