Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 early predictions for the 53-man roster

By Robert Smith

May 5, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Noble Nwachukwu (64) and defensive lineman Villami Latu (92) and defensive lineman James Duberg (90) and defensive lineman Jamar Simpkins (93) wait for a drill during the 49ers Rookie Minicamp. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Noble Nwachukwu (64) and defensive lineman Villami Latu (92) and defensive lineman James Duberg (90) and defensive lineman Jamar Simpkins (93) wait for a drill during the 49ers Rookie Minicamp. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals tight end Cole Hikutini (18) runs the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack safety Josh Jones (11) during the second half at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated North Carolina State 54-13. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals tight end Cole Hikutini (18) runs the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack safety Josh Jones (11) during the second half at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated North Carolina State 54-13. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Cole Hikutini beats out Vance McDonald

Some of you may not know who tight end Cole Hikutini is, but that could all change come September.

The 6-foot-5, 234-pound Louisville Cardinal hauled in 50 catches for 668 yards and eight touchdowns last season before suffering a knee injury in their bowl game versus LSU. He ran a 4.85 40-yard dash during his pro day at Louisville.

Yet even with the injury and not working out at the NFL Scouting Combine, 49ers Vice President of Player Personnel Adam Peters saw something in Hikutini that led to him signing with the team as an undrafted free agent:

"I do like Hikutini even though we didn’t draft him.  I really liked him just for our offense.  Maybe not for everybody’s, but as far as what Kyle is looking for in a tight end… I thought he had something special."

And while the team selected George Kittle in the fifth round, Hikutini’s ability to separate and find space in the zones led Peters, John Lynch and Co. to immediately pursue him following the draft.

Hikutini could very well steal away the role that current tight end Vance McDonald was supposed to have filled following the departure of former 49er Vernon Davis a few seasons ago. But McDonald’s unsure hands and inconsistency has prompted the team to look at other options.

And although the team re-signed McDonald to a five-year extension, there are no guarantees he ever plays out that contract with the 49ers.

Hikutini was listed as one of Mel Kiper’s top undrafted free agents, and the 49ers pushed hard to bring him in. That bodes well for Hikutini’s chances of sticking with the team, as the 49ers look to create competition at every position on the field.

With McDonald having been drafted by the previous regime, Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have no strong ties to him. And if he is anything less than stellar through minicamps and/or preseason, McDonald could find himself looking for a new team come September.