Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players With a Last Chance in 2016

By Jerod Brown

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) celebrates after the 49ers defeated the St. Louis Rams 19-16 in overtime at Levi
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) celebrates after the 49ers defeated the St. Louis Rams 19-16 in overtime at Levi /
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Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) blocks San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine (95) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) blocks San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine (95) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Tank Carradine-EDGE

For the purposes of this exercise, we list Tank Carradine as an EDGE player. We have yet to see him play much outside linebacker for the 49ers after his failed attempt to bulk up and play as a defensive tackle in the 49ers’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

In college at Florida State, Carradine was a defensive end in a 4-3 defense and was seen as a premiere interior pass-rusher as he came out of the draft. The 49ers were considered to have one of the steals of the draft after getting Carradine at 40th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. Carradine slipped to the second round after an ACL injury ended his senior season.

49ers supporters have been waiting for Carradine to arrive and justify the hype that surrounded him throughout the draft process. As he prepared to enter the draft, even with his injury, many expected him to be drafted high and make an impact.

Jeremiah wasn’t the only one that thought he would impress in the NFL.

Ultimately, the experiment to transition to a 3-4 DT rather than a 4-3 DE hasn’t paid off like the 49ers or Carradine expected, and he is now in transition of trying to find a fit in this defense.

In a pass-happy NFL landscape, it’s reasonable to believe that the team could hold a roster spot simply for a sub-package EDGE defender. Tank will have to beat out other players on the roster for a single position and will need to produce all season or risk seeing himself land on the inactive list on game days.

Dominant defenses have elite pass-rushers and the 49ers are still waiting on a new defender to fill that role after Aldon Smith’s departure. Carradine will be given the opportunity in 2016 but it is likely his last with the team. If he fails again, he’ll be ushered out.

Next: Emotional and Underwhelming Receiver