Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting 49ers 2016 Depth Chart Before Training Camp

By Peter Panacy

Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
18 of 23
Next
Erik Pears, 49ers
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Erik Pears (71) looks on against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Right Tackle

Starter: Erik Pears

Backup: Trent Brown

Why, oh why, would a guy who had a minus-30.7 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus, a year ago be tabbed as the starter for San Francisco’s offensive line this year?

Well, it’s not the ideal situation. But it’s one the 49ers are facing right now.

Yes, veteran tackle Erik Pears gets the nod at right tackle to start the season. This is for a number of reasons, and none of them are very good.

The ideal situation is for second-year pro Trent Brown to get the call here. But Brown didn’t appear to be in good shape, physically, for the start of the 49ers’ offseason programs. And this could play a major factor in determining whether or not head coach Chip Kelly and Co. want to roll the dice on his conditioning.

And, according to Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid, Brown may not even be the ideal fit for Kelly’s scheme anyway.

General manager Trent Baalke did select linemen John Theus and Fahn Cooper in the 2016 NFL Draft, so the 49ers do have additional options. It’s just hard to see late-round draft picks be tabbed as plug-and-play starters in Week 1.

So Pears it is.

Next: Tight End