The No. 2 wide receiver battle in Kansas City is NOT dead. It's a live and well following the 49ers and Chiefs trade on Friday. Jon Baldwin is now with the 49ers and A.J. Jenkins joins the Chiefs receivers.
Before the trade, Baldwin had consistently lined up as the No. 2 receiver opposite Dwayne Bowe. If you go by reps in training camp, which is what really matters, there was little doubt that Baldwin was the No. 2 receiver. That tells me that the Chiefs gave Baldwin every opportunity they could to succeed.
I was asked a number of times over the past few weeks who the No. 2 receiver would be. I always responded Jon Baldwin. Despite his struggles, the Chiefs lined up at No. 2 as much as Dwayne Bowe lined up at No. 1. To me, it was obvious Baldwin would be the No. 2
Unless, you know, they traded him.
Now that they've done that, the No. 2 receiver position battle got a lot more interesting.
"He's a guy who needs to be in slot or at flanker off the line," David Fucillo of Niners Nation writes of A.J. Jenkins. "The 49ers were lining him up at split end."
Right now I would predict that Donnie Avery was just elevated into the No. 2 receiver role. He was behind Baldwin so without seeing Jenkins in this offense I think you have to say that Donnie Avery is the new No. 2 receiver. Maybe Jenkins impresses in practice and moves up. Or maybe he doesn't. We just don't know yet.
Who is the new No. 2 receiver?
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