49ers Preseason: Evaluating Bubble-Watch Players for Each Position
By Peter Panacy
Wide Receiver
Lock: Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton, Torrey Smith
Looking Good: Jerome Simpson
Strong Bubble: Devon Cajuste, Bryce Treggs
Weak Bubble: Dres Anderson, Aaron Burbridge, DiAndre Campbell, DeAndre Smelter, DeAndrew White
Ah, one of the most problematic positions for the 49ers entering this season.
No. 1 wideout Torrey Smith doesn’t raise any questions. And fellow receivers Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington should also have no problem making the cut.
After that, well…
Veteran wide receiver Jerome Simpson has had a solid training camp and, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (h/t KNBR 680), no one else has really stepped up and separated himself in this open-ended competition.
Head coach Chip Kelly will probably keep six receivers on his roster this season. So far, three are locks. And Simpson could end up securing the fourth slot.
Rookies Bryce Treggs and Devon Cajuste make it onto the strong-bubble list for a couple of different reasons. Treggs, despite some problems versus the Texans, has performed well in camp. Cajuste, whose hands are amazing, is a 6-foot-4 red-zone threat.
Some of the other wideout candidates, like rookie receiver Aaron Burbridge, may find themselves on the practice squad.
And the Niners may be combing the waiver wire when other NFL teams make roster cuts, per Barrows.
Next: Running Back