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

By Peter Panacy

Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) returns an interception for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) returns an interception for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Erik Pears (71) looks on against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Erik Pears (71) looks on against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Tackle/Guard Erik Pears

San Francisco’s offensive line was one of the major team weaknesses over the course of 2015, and the right side was particularly vulnerable and a culprit of the 49ers’ offensive woes.

Veteran right tackle Erik Pears got the start following the sudden retirement of Anthony Davis that year, and Pears wound up starting all 16 games during the regular season — he did shift inside to guard when the 49ers promoted then-rookie tackle Anthony Davis to a starting role.

Pears finished the season with a minus-30.7 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). But it’s not exactly his fault. Pears wasn’t signed to be a starter, rather a swing tackle who had the option to fill in along the interior O-line positions.

He’ll be competing for that now, especially after the NFL Draft additions of linemen Joshua Garnett, Fahn Cooper and John Theus.

Cooper and Theus will likely compete with Brown for the starting right tackle position once more. And the interior positions will likely be locked down by Garnett and free-agent acquisition Zane Beadles.

Pears may have veteran prowess on his side, but the results from last season don’t suggest he’ll be a strong candidate to make the roster in any capacity. And it doesn’t help he’ll turn 34 years old in June.

Next: DT Glenn Dorsey