San Francisco 49ers: Starting Lineup Predictions for 2016 Season

Despite training camp being over five weeks away, it is a fun exercise to try and predict the starting lineup for the 2016 San Francisco 49ers. Whereas certain positions are set, there are many which are up for grabs and how some players perform over the rest of the offseason and the preseason will determine how they play out. Niner Noise takes a look into the crystal ball of what we might see.

There are several experienced first-tier San Francisco 49ers veterans who are guaranteed to be in the starting lineup in 2016. Left tackle Joe Staley, center Daniel Kilgore, linebacker NaVorro Bowman, defensive tackle Ian Wlliams, wide receiver Torrey Smith, running back Carlos Hyde and safety Antoine Bethea just need to start the year healthy.

There are numerous second-tier players who with a strong training camp could push themselves into the conversation of being starters. There are too many to individually list here, but some of the notable names include receiver Bruce Ellington, tight end Garrett Celek, outside linebacker Aaron Lynch and corner/safety Jimmie Ward.

Everyone is getting a clean slate under new head coach Chip Kelly. The Niners offense will be based on an inside-zone scheme, and will come in and out of plays as quickly as possible.

The defense will be expected to spend more time on the field. How they do in this scenario is anyone’s guess. They are a young group. They need to be an athletic group.

Every season there are players who you’d expect to make the team do it, and others who you expect to make it do not. Then throw in your surprises, and you have your 53-man roster.

This piece is about who we predict to make the starting lineup, not shockers. Therefore most of these picks are common sense and will include the best players at their respective positions.

Let’s do this!

Next: Quarterback