San Francisco 49ers: Grading 2015 Rookie Class after Season
By Peter Panacy
The 2015 season has come to a close for the San Francisco 49ers, and it’s time to look back at the team’s rookie class and how this group performed in its first year at the NFL level. Niner Noise grades out the 49ers’ recent group of draftees.
The San Francisco 49ers have plenty of uncertainty on the horizon following a 5-11 finish and the dismissal of head coach Jim Tomsula after Week 17. San Francisco’s roster has some significant holes and was largely filled by young players still learning the ropes at the NFL level.
The Niners’ 2015 draft class is no different. Many of these players were thrust into roles for which they weren’t quite prepared and/or required plenty of adjustment.
With the season now at an end, how did the 49ers’ rookie class stand up to the competition and their own expectation?
It’s a good question to answer in advance of the offseason. San Francisco will also look to bolster its roster in 2016 with another promising class. But one must also evaluate how last year’s draftees impacted the team over the course of the season.
To do this, Niner Noise takes a look at how each player performed based on statistics, roles, expectation and overall ability. A grade (A through F) is then assigned in such an order.
In case anyone forgot who the 49ers’ rookie class included, here’s a list:
- DE Arik Armstead
- SS Jaquiski Tartt
- OLB Eli Harold
- TE Blake Bell
- RB Mike Davis
- WR DeAndre Smelter
- P Bradley Pinion
- G Ian Silberman
- G Trent Brown
- TE Busta Anderson
Undrafted free agents are not on the list but, for the sake of argument, we’ll throw on running back Jarryd Hayne into the mix given the amount of attention he received after crossing over from Australian rugby.
Let’s start with Hayne.
Next: Jarryd Hayne