Niners select WR/KR/PR Junior Bergen with pick 252

Originally posted by okdkid:
I know he's coming in as a KR - but he will have to be elite to justify the roster spot if he can't contribute as a WR. There are already six WRs ahead of him on the depth chart.

That has certainly been the trend. I get the sense that the new touchback rules have opened ShannLynch to the possibility of rostering a return man. I don't think they draft him if this is not the case.

He's so shifty but it blows my mind how patient his is

All he has to do is catch the punt, and he'll make the team

Originally posted by JMC52:
He's so shifty but it blows my mind how patient his is

His vision is pretty elite

This pick makes sense. Watkins not so much.

Originally posted by Cisco0623:
This pick makes sense. Watkins not so much.

Watkins has return ability as well if this guy doesn't pan out. Who knows when Aiyuk comes back.

Should have just drafted Brashard Smith who is by far the better player and is a KR.

I like this guy though

Originally posted by trfan:
He's from the same school as Marc Mariani who was a pro bowl return man for the Tennessee Titans about 10 years ago. Head coach Bobby Hauck also coaches special teams and has coached up a lot of unheralded walk ons into great special teams players. I've watched Mariani and Bergen many times in person, and they are both very patient and let the play develop.

As a Billings Montana guy myself and also as a Griz fan, I got to watch a lot of both Mariani when he played and recently Bergen. Mariani was a touch faster than Bergen. However Bergen has better field vision and more patients. Bergen may have been there as an UDFA and probably would have chose SF over others due to him and his dad being big Niners fans. But being that they drafted him shows they wanted to make sure they locked him up before anyone else could get that shot and potentially could lose him to some other team. He's a very smart young man, who has a very high football IQ. I got to watch him from high school on up, and I'm very excited for him to get a chance to prove himself at this next level.

How he approaches a punt return.

https://youtube.com/shorts/5irjsczH72I?si=vZLnDD2wvIhut9Nz

A nice bio piece.

Originally posted by 49ers808:

Originally posted by Cisco0623:
This pick makes sense. Watkins not so much.

Watkins has return ability as well if this guy doesn't pan out. Who knows when Aiyuk comes back.

Watkins is 5'11", 195 lbs, runs a 4.3 40, runs crisp routes, solid hands (based off the gauntlet) & produced in the SEC. If nothing else he challenges Cowing, Owens, etc, for the last couple of WR spots with Pearsall, Aiyuk, Jennings & Robinson locks.

Solid A on this pick..

We have not had a TRUE punt returner since Teddy Ginn Jr !!

Originally posted by Wolf_Packer_53:

Originally posted by 49ers808:

Originally posted by Cisco0623:
This pick makes sense. Watkins not so much.

Watkins has return ability as well if this guy doesn't pan out. Who knows when Aiyuk comes back.

Watkins is 5'11", 195 lbs, runs a 4.3 40, runs crisp routes, solid hands (based off the gauntlet) & produced in the SEC. If nothing else he challenges Cowing, Owens, etc, for the last couple of WR spots with Pearsall, Aiyuk, Jennings & Robinson locks.

Completely agree. Even Robinson is suspended the first couple games.

My bar for kick/punt returns is so low. Just fair catch and don't fumble.

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:
My bar for kick/punt returns is so low. Just fair catch and don't fumble.

Truth right here . This guy provides hope he can flip the field for us though I'll remain optimistic .

The roster isnt made out of rubber and AFAIU Robinson has to be on active roster even when hes suspended right ?

Pearsall Jennings Jennings Robinson Cowing Watkins
Aiyuk on IR

That's six WRs and one on IR
Or seven if BA is there for the start of the season somehow (doubtful)

I dont know, a roster spot just for KR/PR seems a bit rich