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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players Facing a Make-or-Break Season in 2016

By Peter Panacy

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 /
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August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Quinton Patton

Quinton Patton, a three-year pro out of Louisiana Tech, was supposed to be a plug-and-play wide receiver the 49ers could start right away when they drafted him in Round 4 of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Since then, Patton’s pro career has been marked more by injuries and inconsistent play rather than anything else.

Here’s his NFL-level stat line: 36 receptions, 472 yards and one touchdown.

Those aren’t exactly the eye-popping numbers worthy of long-term consideration. But Patton did flash a little more promise in 2015, especially in an anemic offense, and the Niners enter this year with more than a handful of questions at this particular position.

Patton, at 25 years old, is one of the senior members of San Francisco’s receiving corps. His experience over guys like, let’s say DeAndrew White, DeAndre Smelter, Dres Anderson or DiAndre Campbell, can’t be overstated. And it’s possible head coach Chip Kelly is the type of person who maximizes what Patton could have been doing over the last three seasons.

He’ll have to prove it though. The 49ers developing crop of wideouts is going to be eager to overtake Patton on the depth chart.

Why He Stays

2016 is a clear make-or-break season for Patton, and I question how much patience the 49ers organization has with him at this point. But the lack of practical NFL-level experience from the widespread majority of the rest of his positional teammates suggests Patton has a leg up in the competition.

It might be a hard sell to suggest Patton remains in 2017 and beyond, but a very strong season — you know, the one we’ve yet to see — could justify him sticking around another year.

Why He Goes

Patton may not even make the 2016 roster, let alone next year. Remember, every wide receiver was an up-and-coming player at some point in his career, so the youth and inexperience at this position isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Keep in mind, Patton was either inactive or injured for all but 10 of his first 32 regular-season games at the NFL level.

Next: No. 2: Tight End Vance McDonald