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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Rookies Who Could Start in Week 1 of 2016 Season

By Peter Panacy

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Joshua Garnett (65) runs drills with defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie (63) during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Joshua Garnett (65) runs drills with defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie (63) during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stanford wide receiver Devon Cajuste speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stanford wide receiver Devon Cajuste speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver/Tight End Devon Cajuste

Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent

OK, so it’s time for a real dark-horse candidate to start for the 49ers in 2016.

Former Stanford wide receiver Devon Cajuste is a very intriguing option, whom the Niners picked up as an undrafted free agent this offseason.

Cajuste has some enticing intangibles. First, he’s 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, which makes him a matchup nightmare at wide receiver or a likable tight end and red-zone option with speed to burn.

And you can’t overlook Cajuste’s hands either.

So how would he start? The 49ers already have a lot of wide receiver candidates on their roster, right?

Well, head coach Chip Kelly likes mismatches. Who in the NFL doesn’t? And Cajuste creates those. But Kelly does like big-bodied receivers as well. Cajuste has that going for him. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Cajuste, at least, a candidate for a starter’s role.

November 14, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Ugo Amadi (14, left) is called for defensive pass interference against Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Devon Cajuste (89, right) during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Ducks defeated the Cardinal 38-36. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 14, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Ugo Amadi (14, left) is called for defensive pass interference against Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Devon Cajuste (89, right) during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Ducks defeated the Cardinal 38-36. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Niner Noise’s Jerod Brown also suggested it. It’s a long shot, but not one out of the realm of possibility either.

Why He’ll Start

Cajuste will have to leave coaches with the opinion there is no way the Stanford prospect can be kept off the field during games. That’s a tough challenge. But Cajuste does boast plenty of assets worthy of garnering added looks.

And if none of the other 49ers receivers, outside of Torrey Smith, cement themselves as reliable options, Cajuste may just get the unexpected call.

Why He Won’t Start

Right now, Cajuste is more intriguing as a red-zone option and as a tight end conversion. Maybe he starts at TE, but he would still have to climb over other, more established players.

More from Niner Noise

Making the 53-man roster should probably be the first thing on Cajuste’s mind right now. But we could be having this discussion about the rookie’s starting prospects a year, or so, from now.

Next: How the 49ers 2016 NFL Draft Should Have Gone

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