49ers Training Camp: Early Stock Watch for San Francisco

Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson

The 49ers have plenty of questions at wide receiver, and 30-year-old veteran Jerome Simpson will be hard pressed to earn a roster spot after being a virtual non-factor a year ago.

San Francisco is still likely going to go through a youth movement at this position — finding a younger commodity to complement likely No. 1 receiving target Torrey Smith, and it’s reasonable to assume a guy like Bruce Ellington may win the job.

But Simpson has made a strong showing for himself during training camp so far, and Niner Noise touched on this earlier already.

Following a 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Blaine Gabbert, head coach Chip Kelly had some favorable comments about the team’s once-forgotten receiver (h/t Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News):

Simpson still has a long way to go if he wants to make the roster, and I doubt he winds up knocking off one of the younger 49ers receivers the team would like to see as a long-term option.

My guess would be the Niners try to feature him often during the preseason in an attempt to make some sort of trade before Week 1 begins, and the one year remaining on his two-year deal makes it a bit easier to do. The return would be almost nothing, if anything at all. But heck, remember when the 49ers traded a relatively unheard-of linebacker Cam Johnson in 2013?

At any rate, Simpson’s early production is a good thing, even if the team would like to move him.

Stock: Rising

Next: Wide Receiver Aaron Burbridge