Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Best Position Battles to Watch This Offseason

By Rob Lowder

Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) and wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at Levi
January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) and wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at Levi /

Wide Receiver

Roster: Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, Jerome Simpson, DeAndrew White, DeAndre Smelter, Eric Rogers, Dres Anderson, DiAndre Campbell, Aaron Burbridge, Devon Cajuste, Bryce Treggs

Similar to cornerback, the competition at the wide receiver position is absolutely unsettled.

Behind Torrey Smith, there are four to five roster spots that could be claimed by any of the names above, despite some being presumably safer than others.

Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington have shown flashes of potential, but while Patton suffers from poor decision-making, Ellington struggles to stay healthy.

If these two don’t finally find a way to secure their starting roles, Canadian Football League product Eric Rogers may have the ability to move them aside. At 6’3″, Rogers posses the frame and high-point ability to give the 49ers a red zone weapon they have sorely lacked, as Matt Barrows describes:

"Watch Eric Rogers’ highlights on YouTube and a theme emerges: High passes seem destined to sail out-of-bounds until Rogers leaps, stretches and snags the ball out of the air. The 49ers’ new wide receiver had a few of the same during Tuesday’s practice, including a pass along the sideline from quarterback Thaddeus Lewis that Rogers snatched from cornerback Kenneth Acker."

Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans receiver Aaron Burbridge (16) catches a touchdown pass against the Air Force Falcons during the 1st quarter of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans receiver Aaron Burbridge (16) catches a touchdown pass against the Air Force Falcons during the 1st quarter of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Georgia Tech and fourth-round “redshirt” returnee DeAndre Smelter also looks to insert himself into the starting lineup after sitting the 2015 season out. Smelter is cast in the mold of the ideal, big-bodied Kelly WR and possesses a unique blend of speed, size and power.

The aforementioned seem to hold the largest sway over the WR battle, but 2016 sixth-round pick Aaron Burbridge, along with surprise 2015 starter DeAndrew White should make a case for their inclusion.

Finally, the wild card.

Stanford’s Devon Cajuste was signed as an undrafted free agent. While listed as a wide receiver on the team’s website, many believe he could earn a versatile role on the 49ers offense that could also land him at the TE position.

At 6’4″ and 240 pounds, it was a surprise to many that Cajuste went undrafted. It would be wise to ignore his draft status and think of him as a major player in the roster battle at both the TE and WR position.

Next: Battle No. 1