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San Francisco 49ers: Full Predictions for the 2016 NFL Season

By Peter Panacy

Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-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 /

Biggest Busts of 2016

Get your mind out of the gutter, if you were going there.

The 49ers have had more than their fair share of disappointments — either via free agency or the NFL Draft — dating back to 2010. Just look at the entire 2012 draft class for reference.

Determining busts right out of college is a tough thing to do. If general managers and scouts could do it, there would be oh-so few players not cutting it at the NFL level. It’s not a science by any stretch. And free-agent busts can be just as problematic. Some players thrive under one team and situation only to flounder in another after signing the latest gargantuan deal.

So who are the 49ers’ 2016 busts going to be?

Well, we aren’t going to point fingers at players from whom there aren’t high expectations. If you’re a fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round pick and don’t cut it, well, worse things have happened.

Let’s start off the list with one guy I hoped, for a number of years now, would be a critical X-factor for the 49ers: wide receiver Quinton Patton.

Patton, a 2013 fourth-round pick, was supposed to contribute immediately. And I feel bad for always throwing this clip of him running backwards, because it isn’t an entire description of his skill set. But for every flash of brilliance Patton has displayed, moments like these just seem to provide the offset:

Patton may be pushed out of the equation by other receivers like Bruce Ellington, Eric Rogers, DeAndre Smelter or Aaron Burbridge. The lack of consistency or bona fide impact hurts him. It will hurt again in 2016.

The same could be said of tight end Vance McDonald. In all likelihood, this year will be his final chance to showcase his value to the Niners. And it won’t happen.

November 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) reacts after the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) reacts after the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

But let’s raise the expectation bar a little bit and include second-year right tackle Trent Brown. Brown had his moments at the tail end of last season, and it seems to be fans are wanting to see him in a regular starting role this year.

Yet Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (h/t 49erswebzone.com) noted Brown was noticeably “out of shape” during the team’s OTAs.

Not good for an offense led by head coach Chip Kelly.

So let’s predict Brown doesn’t live up to the short-lived hype he received at the tail end of last season, and the 49ers are scrambling, once again, to shore up the right side of the offensive line.

Finally, let’s throw out the notion quarterback Colin Kaepernick is a 2016 bust as well. It might not be entirely his fault — we’ll get to the QB situation shortly — but until Kap shows he’s returned to his 2012-13 form, he’s much closer to “bust” status than anything else.

Next: Biggest 2016 Breakouts