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San Francisco 49ers: Biggest Winners & Losers from the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) reacts during the game against the Houston Texans in first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Houston defeated San Francisco 24-13. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) reacts during the game against the Houston Texans in first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Houston defeated San Francisco 24-13. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Wide Receiver Bruce Ellington

Veteran wideout Bruce Ellington’s future with the team was already in doubt when San Francisco re-signed fellow receiver Jeremy Kerley to a three-year contract earlier this offseason.

But with the draft addition of former Louisiana Tech wide receiver Trent Taylor in Round 5, Ellington’s hold on a roster spot just became a lot more precarious.

Taylor boasts all the attributes Ellington has — speed, quickness, and the ability to double on special teams as a returner. And Taylor surely has better hands, as Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney pointed out:

On the flip side, Ellington’s tenure with the 49ers has been derailed by injuries and inconsistency. He missed all of 2016 with a hamstring injury and saw Kerley take over as San Francisco’s premier slot receiver.

Tack on Taylor, Aldrick Robinson and Marquise Goodwin, and it doesn’t look like Ellington will factor into the 49ers’ plans at this position much longer.