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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Position Battles to Watch in Training Camp

By Trevor Irvine

August 1, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) during training camp at Levi
August 1, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) during training camp at Levi /
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Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates with wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) after scoring the game winning 71 yard touchdown during the overtime against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The 49ers won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) celebrates with wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) after scoring the game winning 71 yard touchdown during the overtime against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The 49ers won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver

To say that the 49ers have had an underachieving wide receiver group the last few years is simply an understatement. Mr. Dependable Anquan Boldin remains unsigned, whilst Torrey Smith flashed some good games but was invisible in others. But to be honest, the play-calling last season didn’t help him very much…

We have been waiting patiently for Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington to emerge from the shadows, but they haven’t escaped the Gotham-like funk yet. We didn’t get much from rookie DeAndrew White, and fellow rookie DeAndre Smelter spent the season rehabbing and inactive.

The wide receivers played a small part in the putrid 49ers 2015 offense (14.9 points per game). Baalke has made his intentions clear by signing Canadian Football League star Eric Rogers in free agency and drafting Michigan State University receiver Aaron Burbridge in the sixth round.

Burbridge was a draft steal, as he was widely mocked to go in the fourth round. Fox Sports national writer Peter Schrager loved the Burbridge pick (h/t Taylor Price of 49ers.com):

"I love Burbridge. I don’t get why Burbridge fell. He was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. He won All-Big Ten honors. He’s just a talented, talented kid, who got the job done, so I love that pick."

Smith, Rogers, Smelter, White and Burbridge are likely to make the final roster, which puts both Ellington and Patton on the roster bubble. If Boldin were to be re-signed then obviously this would change the makeup too. Ellington and Patton will have to blow up training camp and force Kelly and Baalke to keep them.

There is a good chance one of them makes it, or if an injury occurs to another body, we could see both. But just how many more chances do these guys get?

Next: Offensive Line