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San Francisco 49ers: Full Depth Chart & Roster Predictions for 2016 Season

By Peter Panacy

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back DuJuan Harris (32) carries the ball against the St. Louis Rams in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back DuJuan Harris (32) carries the ball against the St. Louis Rams in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) during a player injury against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) during a player injury against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver

Torrey Smith, Bruce Ellington, Aaron Burbridge (slot), Eric Rogers, Devon Cajuste

Players Cut: Dres Anderson, DiAndre Campbell, Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson, DeAndre Smelter, Bryce Treggs, DeAndrew White

Wide receiver is yet another one of the 49ers positions we have little clue how to formulate.

Aside from No. 1 wideout Torrey Smith, the rest of the depth chart is, essentially, up in the air. The No. 2 job could go to Bruce Ellington, and we can imagine how head coach Chip Kelly may put his skill set to best use. Or he could be featured in the slot. It’s hard to say.

But another strong candidate for the slot position might be rookie wideout Aaron Burbridge, as discussed in the video below:

Route-running and scheme fit will determine this, but let’s go with Burbridge in this position for now.

This does, of course, mean other receivers like Eric Rogers, Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson, DeAndre Smelter and a crop of other young targets are competing for the final spots. Rookie UDFA Devon Cajuste is as well.

Cajuste is a strong candidate to make the roster, as his 6-foot-4, 277-pound frame — his great hands too — provide the 49ers with an ideal red-zone threat.

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 /

Rogers, a former CFL standout, has also enjoyed a strong offseason program. He might overtake both Patton and Simpson for depth-receiving roles.

Smelter is a tough one to figure out. I’m not so sure the 49ers are willing to give up on this ACL-injury experiment just yet, but stashing him on some injured list may be a bit of a reach right now.

One or two of the remaining candidates may find their way onto San Francisco’s practice squad.

Next: Running Back