The 49ers traded up in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft to select WR Dante Pettis out of University of Washington.
#49ers trade up to 44 to select @dmainy_13!#BrickByBrick pic.twitter.com/7u4iQePbtd
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 28, 2018
The 49ers and Redskins swapped 2nd round picks, 49ers got pick 44 and Redskins got pick 59. Redskins also received the 74th overall and the 49ers picked up the 142nd overall.
Player Bio
You could say the Pettis family has some athletic prowess. Dante’s father, Gary, played 11 seasons of major league baseball for four teams, winning five Gold Gloves as a centerfielder. His older cousin, Austin, was Boise State’s all-time leading Receiver before playing in the NFL for four seasons with the St. Louis Rams. Pettis was an all-conference high school football player at cornerback as a junior and receiver as a senior, while also playing hoops and competing at the California state track meet in the 200 meters and long jump. His athleticism got him on the field with the Huskies as a true freshman in a punt returner (28 att., 288 yards, TD) and part-time starting receiver (five starts in 13 games, 17 receptions, 259 yards, TD) role. Pettis excelled on special teams again as a sophomore, ranking fourth in the nation with 16.9 yards per punt return (16 att., 271 yards, two TD). He started eight of 13 games at receiver, as well (30 receptions, 414 yards, TD). Pettis combined with quarterback Jake Browning to explode on the national scene in 2016, displaying centerfielder-type hands as well as excellent toughness as a receiver, runner, and blocker. He ranked seventh in the FBS with 15 touchdown receptions and garnered second-team All-Pac-12 honors with 53 catches for 822 yards. His increased role on offense did not prevent him from making plays as a punt returner for the third straight season (25 att., 287 yards, two TD, ranked 10th in the FBS with 11.5 yards per return).
Overview
Solid secondary receiving option who has spent time on his craft and has the ability to attack and uncover on all three levels. Pettis lacks physicality and could struggle to handle in-your-face press corners, so he may see snaps from the slot. While his punt return talent solidifies his draft standing, his ability as route-runner combined with his smooth pass-catching should give him a long, solid career.
Strengths
Can play outside or from slot
Fine-tuned route runner known for his work ethic
Runs full route tree
Accelerates off line and sinks hips into breaks for sharp turns and additional separation
Impressive short-area quickness for receiver with his stride length
Moves cornerbacks around with route savvy and effective fakes
Scrambles to uncover when quarterback leaves pocket
Works back to throws
Natural pass catcher with stick-and-stay hands
Plus concentration in traffic
Has sudden hands
Makes necessary deep ball and in-air body adjustments to catch
Has slant and fade quickness near goal line to dismantle coverage
Elusive punt return specialist with nine career touchdowns
Eludes first tackler and hits his top gear quickly
Weaknesses
Had six of his seven receiving touchdowns against Fresno State and Oregon State
May need to alter route speeds a little more on the pro level
Tends to hint about underneath routes with lack of vertical push
Physical cornerbacks throw him off his game
Needs to keep adding muscle and play strength to his frame
Can do better job of stacking cornerbacks once he has them beat
Scouts say he lacks an alpha personality and some question his long speed
NFL.com
This post first appeared on 49ersNews - San Francisco 49ers News, Opinion, Hig, please read the originial post: here
