NFL Roster Cuts: 5 Best Moves the 49ers Made in Creating 53-Man Roster
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Retaining Wide Receiver Aaron Burbridge
Rookie wide receiver Aaron Burbridge was able to stick around on the 49ers’ 53-man roster.
San Francisco’s sixth-round pick from the 2016 NFL Draft isn’t someone with blazing speed — a necessity in head coach Chip Kelly’s offense. But he does have tremendous hands, which he displayed while catching passes from quarterback Connor Cook at Michigan State.
Burbridge’s wide catch radius and ability to bail out his quarterback is a good attribute to have, especially considering some of the preseason accuracy woes suffered by 49ers QBs Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick.
As it turned out, Burbridge won this competition between he and the rest of San Francisco’s young receivers.
The only young receiver the #49ers kept was draft pick Aaron Burbridge. They cut DeAndrew White, Anderson, Cajuste, Whalen.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 3, 2016
Keep this in mind — Burbridge didn’t exactly wow in the preseason, but he quietly put together a five-catch, 36-yard performance.
At least the opportunity opens up for Burbridge to develop his abilities and make an impact at the next level.
Next: Retaining CB Chris Davis