49ers Training Camp: Early Stock Watch for San Francisco

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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Blake Bell 49ers
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Blake Bell (84) catches a pass during warmups before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Tight End Blake Bell

While tight end Vance McDonald may be enjoying a productive training camp so far, second-year TE Blake Bell seems to be heading in the opposite direction.

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat gave his assessment of Bell’s efforts on Day 3 of camp:

"[Bell] dropped two easy passes during team drills and caught zero. Has shown no improvement as a receiver since last season."

Remember, Bell played quarterback for three years at Oklahoma before switching to tight end his senior year. He’s still learning the position, and the rawness can be expected. The real question is how much time are the 49ers willing to afford to let this development play out.

This isn’t a good sign for Bell. At all.

San Francisco isn’t going to part ways with veteran TE Garrett Celek, and McDonald likely stays this season too.

And with Bruce Miller moving from fullback to tight end, the competition space here is awfully limited. Throw in 6-foot-4, 224-pound former Stanford wide receiver — and likely TE convert — Devon Cajuste, and Bell could be the odd man out.

No, the “Belldozer” experiment doesn’t appear to be working. Not yet, at least.

Stock: Falling

Next: Nose Tackle Mike Purcell