San Francisco 49ers: Who Is on Each Position’s Roster Bubble in 2016?
By Peter Panacy
Offensive Line
Tackles: Trent Brown, Fahn Cooper, Colin Kelly, Erik Pears, Norman Price, Joe Staley, John Theus
Guards: Zane Beadles, Joshua Garnett, Blake Muir, Ian Silberman, Brandon Thomas, Andrew Tiller,
Center: Alex Balducci, Daniel Kilgore, Marcus Martin
San Francisco’s offensive line was one of the primary liabilities for the team in 2015, and this group was ranked No. 27 by Pro Football Focus in overall efficiency last year.
As such, the 49ers spent considerable efforts upgrading the line this offseason.
The team brought in free-agent guard Zane Beadles — a former Pro Bowler — and drafted former Stanford guard Joshua Garnett in Round 1. The Niners also added draftee tackles Fahn Cooper and John Theus later in the draft.
Veteran tackle Joe Staley is a shoo-in at the left side of the line. And Daniel Kilgore should be primed to return at center. Beadles will likely start one of the two guard positions and, most likely, Garnett will assume the other.
Right tackle is the most intriguing, and signs point to a four-way competition between Cooper, Theus, second-year pro Trent Brown and veteran Erik Pears.
Pears — who was one of the Niners worst-graded linemen in 2016, per PFF (subscription required) — should actually stick around. He has versatility in playing both tackle positions and can bump inside to guard.
There may be concerns with fellow developing linemen Marcus Martin and Brandon Thomas, although it’s hard to say the 49ers have given up on both of them yet.
Strong Bubble: Brandon Thomas, Marcus Martin, John Theus, Andrew Tiller
Weak Bubble: Alex Balducci, Colin Kelly, Blake Muir, Norman Price, Ian Silberman
Next: Wide Receiver/Tight End