2016 NFL Draft: San Francisco 49ers Picks, Grades and Analysis
By Jerod Brown
Round 6, Pick No. 38, 213th Overall
Player: WR Aaron Burbridge
Height/Weight: 6’0″, 206 pounds
Wrapping up the sixth round for the 49ers, general manager Trent Baalke takes wide receiver Aaron Burbridge with the team’s second-to-last selection. The 49ers have a ton of guys at the wide receiver position but, aside from Torrey Smith, they’re all largely unproven players.
The 49ers do well to add another intriguing player to the camp competition that is sure to ensue. Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton will need to hit the field now if they plan on having a spot on the roster in 2016. After failed attempts to produce, the 49ers may have grown tired of waiting for Ellington and Patton.
Burbridge has similar size to Patton and does just about everything better. The two will likely compete for a spot on the roster in 2016.
Strengths:
Burbridge plays significantly larger than his frame would indicate, and he is a true get-up-and-get-it player. He made quarterback Connor Cook look good with his ability to routinely pluck inaccurate passes out of the air.
Burbridge is the type of receiver who replaces Anquan Boldin, in that he is a go-to target who makes difficult catches in contested areas. He isn’t going to beat anyone with speed, but he’ll use good footwork to stem routes and set defensive backs up for slight moves to create separation.
At Michigan State, Burbridge was the guy when the team needed 15 yards. Burbridge had the respect of the coaches and quarterback as a receiver which would produce when called upon. Burbridge specializes in in-breaking and short routes that he can win with footwork.
In Chip Kelly’s offense, Burbridge is built like the prototypical receiver.
Weaknesses:
Just as Burbridge wins with footwork and short routes, he’s never much of a downfield threat. The 49ers have Smith for that purpose, but Burbridge’s inability to effectively run a full route tree will give defensive backs an advantage, knowing he can’t take them deep.
Burbridge also makes catches more difficult than necessary. He is a true Vernon Davis type of receiver–he’ll allow the ball to get in on his frame unnecessarily and will fail to secure passes with his hands. Combine that with inefficient and unnecessary jumps to catch passes, and you have a receiver who drops far more passes than he should.
Why He Fits:
The 49ers needed at least one more receiver to compete in training camp and, although many expected a receiver to come a little earlier, Burbridge is an excellent selection so late in the draft. He’ll provide the size, attitude and skill set that Chip Kelly will like as a weapon in his offense.
Patton likely saw his own training camp get significantly more difficult with the selection of Burbridge, and rightfully so. The wide receivers are unproven at best, and bringing in another competitor only serves to make the entire group better.
Baalke uses his final pick in sixth round to address the position that many felt should been addressed slightly earlier.
Grade: B
Next: Round 7: Prince Charles Iworah, Cornerback