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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Players Entering a Make-or-Break Season in 2016

By Peter Panacy

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) shows off his grill prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) shows off his grill prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Quinton Patton

OK, so we’ve reached the final member on this list from the 2013 NFL Draft.

Wide receiver Quinton Patton was supposed to contribute right off the bat his rookie season. But injuries and a lack of playing time kept him off the field for the majority of his first two years in San Francisco. He appeared in a combined 10 games between 2013 and 2014 but managed to get into all 16 games for the 49ers last year.

Patton is one of those players who always seems on the cusp of making huge strides and contributions. And yet each great moment is marred by a bone-headed play or some failed execution.

Add in rookie wideout Aaron Burbridge, second-year pro DeAndre Smelter and a youthful crop of promising, yet unproven wideouts, and who knows if Patton will ever be a part of San Francisco’s long-term plans.

So it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Niner Noise’s Rob Lowder consider Patton as the player with the most to lose this offseason.

What Patton does have going for him is NFL experience. Remember, the vast majority of the 49ers receiving corps is young and undeveloped.

But this won’t likely save fellow wideout Jerome Simpson. And it may not salvage Patton’s tenure with the Niners either.

Next: No. 2: OLB Ahmad Brooks