San Francisco 49ers: 10 Players Who May Be on the Roster Bubble After NFL Draft

Wide Receiver Quinton Patton

This is a similar situation as with wide receiver Bruce Ellington, although fellow wideout Quinton Patton likely has a better shot to make the roster in 2016.

Like Ellington, Patton has flashed moments of brilliance. But injuries and inconsistent play have relegated the former fourth-round pick to bubble-watch status.

Speaking of inconsistent plays:

OK, so this one play can’t act as judge and jury for Patton’s future. But if we look at the direction in which the Niners are likely heading this season, it’s reasonable to assume Patton’s tenure in San Francisco is anything but guaranteed.

Patton could be the beneficiary of snaps if the 49ers continue to stay away from unsigned veteran free agent Anquan Boldin. Complementing likely No. 1 wideout Torrey Smith will be a heralded task this season.

Yet that’s a role one could expect rookie wideout Aaron Burbridge to assume. Burbridge is a similar mold to Boldin — good hands, physical abilities and a player who fights for contested balls.

Consistency will be the name of the game here. And it’s something Patton has struggled with during his pro career.

Remember, Patton was pushed down the depth chart back in 2014 when the 49ers had receivers Boldin, Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd on the roster. San Francisco’s crop is much younger and less developed now, which is good for Patton’s prospects.

But it’s possible the Niners want to move in a different direction altogether.

Next: S Antoine Bethea