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49ers Training Camp: Early Stock Watch for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with teammates 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 quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with teammates during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 5, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Anthony Davis (76) walks onto the field prior to the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Anthony Davis (76) walks onto the field prior to the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Right Tackle Anthony Davis

The 49ers should benefit from the return of once-retired right tackle Anthony Davis and, while he’s been working with the third-team unit, Davis appears to be a shoo-in candidate to reclaim his former starting job.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee described Davis’ efforts in a zone-blocking drill on Day 3:

"The best player overall in this drill may have been right tackle Anthony Davis, whose footwork seemed very smooth despite a year and a half away from the game. Davis handled fifth-round pick Ronald Blair well and then was strong against another rookie, Buckner. As you would expect from someone who dropped 30-plus pounds, Davis was light on his feet."

Davis’ weight loss should be a bonus for head coach Chip Kelly’s zone-blocking scheme, and the drop in pounds should also help maintain the lineman’s health.

And, according to Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Davis performed very well against the 49ers’ best defender thus far, Arik Armstead.

Davis will likely be in hot competition with second-year tackle Trent Brown, who has looked good — according to Barrows — despite some conditioning concerns from earlier this offseason.

Still, Davis is a clear upgrade over Brown at this point.

Stock: Rising

Next: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick