Also part of the discussion was rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis, who has been turning some heads during his first NFL training camp.
"This guy is super talented," says Inman.
The 49ers beat writer believes that Pettis could eventually be a replacement for the almost 32-year-old Pierre Garçon. Some assumed that Pettis, who was a special teams standout in college, would be utilized in at the slot receiver spot but the 49ers have been using him a lot on the outside during practices.
"I don't know if it's this year (that he replaces Garçon)," says Inman. "I doubt it. Outside possibility of it. But he's not necessarily going to take over Trent Taylor's spot at slot. I mean, he could, and Trent hasn't been fully practicing yet because of the back issue. But Pettis, at some point, is going to become a starting wide receiver because he looks so talented."
Garçon brought veteran stability to the receiving corps in head coach Kyle Shanahan's first year with the 49ers. He was halfway to a 1,000-yard season last year before a neck injury sidelined him during Week 8. Garçon still has a lot to offer and could be productive in 2018, but Inman has his eye on Pettis as the future.
"I like [Pettis] a lot," says Inman. "He is a very different kind of guy. He dyed his hair blue. He has a — Jimmy Garoppolo describes it as a wiggle, which makes him different when he comes off the line and kind of freaks out some DBs. He's really neat to watch."
You can listen to the latest No Huddle Podcast episode below, from our dedicated podcast page, on iTunes, Google Play, or SoundCloud.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Florio: Brock Purdy may never become a top QB, so why should the 49ers pay him like one?
Mike Florio's hot takes frequently spark debate among NFL fans, and his latest comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will probably be no exception. As the 49ers enter contract extension talks with Purdy—talks expected to make him one of the NFL's... -
Two local wideouts among expected attendees at 49ers local pro day
The San Francisco 49ers traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders this offseason. Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from ACL and MCL injuries, casting doubt on his availability for Week 1. With Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall currently leading the depth... -
PFF links South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders to 49ers as best Day 2 draft fit
While most mock drafts focus on predicting first-round selections for teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Mason Cameron took a different route—identifying the best Day 2 fits for each NFL team. These are players projected to be selected in... -
PFF names FCS offensive tackle as 49ers' best Day 3 fit
Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Mason Cameron recently identified South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders as the best Day 2 fit for the San Francisco 49ers. Cameron has expanded his analysis to Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft—rounds four through seven—highlighting...