Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 10 Players with a Lot to Prove in 2016

By Peter Panacy

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Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) gets sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Tank Carradine (95) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) gets sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Tank Carradine (95) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive End Tank Carradine

Another 2013 draft bust has turned out to be defensive end Tank Carradine. Only Carradine was a second-round selection by the 49ers that year.

Carradine was heralded in college. But an injury thwarted his rookie season, and he didn’t earn many points with then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio the season afterwards.

Despite flashing some promise at the tail end of 2014, Carradine came back to earth last year despite a need for defensive ends. Both veteran DEs Ray McDonald and Justin Smith were no longer with the team, yet Carradine ended up starting just one game over the course of the season.

No, this investment hasn’t panned out much at all.

San Francisco will be looking to feature Carradine as strictly an edge rusher instead of an every-down defensive end this season. The latter approach hasn’t appeared to work at all, so some success here may be Carradine’s final shot to prove his worth in a 49ers uniform.

He’ll likely stay on the roster this season as a supplementary piece, but anything beyond one year is in doubt at best.

Next: G Brandon Thomas