Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Projecting 53-Man Roster in 2016

By Peter Panacy

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (69, left) and outside linebacker Eli Harold (58) celebrate during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (69, left) and outside linebacker Eli Harold (58) celebrate during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (7) and Blaine Gabbert (2) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (7) and Blaine Gabbert (2) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback

Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, Jeff Driskel

OK, onto the slide everyone is waiting for.

Yes, Colin Kaepernick edges out Blaine Gabbert, the guy who surpassed Kap on the depth chart last year, for this year’s quarterback competition.

To do so, Kaepernick will have to come from behind — he wasn’t able to participate in practice due to his offseason surgeries — as Gabbert received first-team reps. And it’s even possible some members of the 49ers are pulling for Gabbert to get the starting job, as described in the video below:

Call it a hunch, but head coach Chip Kelly will likely want to see what he has in Kaepernick first before a possible move to Gabbert.

Few should doubt Kaepernick has a higher ceiling, based on his raw skill set alone, than his counterpart. A new head coach — one with an ability to boost quarterbacks — certainly helps here.

By no means does this assure Kap retains the starting job for the entirety of 2016. But, seeing how the 49ers still control his rights for the foreseeable future, Kaepernick should receive first consideration.

More from Niner Noise

It’s a job Kaepernick will have to retain though. Perhaps the knowledge of a starting-caliber quarterback like Gabbert looking over his shoulder and hot on his tail will provide the added motivation to try to regain the same form Kap had back in 2012 and 2013.

Maybe it’s not. Who knows what will happen here.

But, to start, Kaepernick wins out atop the quarterbacking depth chart.

Some players are listed twice, and there are a few spots still up for grabs (likely special teams contributors). But this should hammer out an initial look at what the 53-man roster could be in 2016.

Next: Steps to Rebuild the 49ers in 2016

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.