San Francisco 49ers: 2016 NFL Draft Recap & Analysis

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Projected Depth Chart

It’s far too early to be churning out a depth chart until we get a little more idea about how the 49ers’ young players will develop, but here’s a first crack at what the initial depth chart might be at this moment in time.

Bold indicates a starter, Underlines indicate rookies.

QB: Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick, Jeff Driskel
RB: Carlos Hyde, Bruce Miller (FB/TE), Shaun Draughn, Kelvin Taylor
WR: Torrey Smith, Jerome Simpson, Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, Eric Rodgers, DeAndre Smelter
TE: Garrett Celek, Vance McDonald, Blake Bell
LT: Joe Staley, Fahn Cooper
LG: Joshua Garnett, Zane Beadles,
C: Daniel Kilgore, Marcus Martin
RG: Andrew Tiller, Brandon Thomas
RT: Trent Brown, John Theus

DE: DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Quinton Dial, Glenn Dorsey, Ronald Blair
DT: Ian Williams, Mike Purcell
OLB: Ahmad Brooks, Aaron Lynch, Eli Harold, Tank Carradine, Marcus Rush
ILB: NaVorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Jaquiski Tartt, Gerald Hodges, Nick Bellore
CB: Tramaine Brock, Will Redmond, Kenneth Acker, Rashard Robinson, Dontae Johnson
S: Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward, L.J. McCray

I’ve moved Tank Carradine back to outside linebacker, as has long been speculated. I’ve also moved the hard-hitting Jaquiski Tartt into an inside linebacker role, allowing Jimmie Ward to move back to safety to accommodate the new cornerbacks.

The wide receiver, cornerback and running back charts should be considered very flexible at this point; Kelvin Taylor and Aaron Burbridge have real chances to gain significant playing time on an offense that was riddled with question marks in 2015. Will Redmond’s ACL recovery will help determine his fate; it’s possible he starts out on PUP or IR, or at least behind Acker on the depth chart, and works his way up.

Next: 49ers Picks, Grades and Analysis

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Eleven picks in three days. I…I’m gonna go lie down now.