49ers training camp: 10 returning veterans on the hot seat

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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 01: DeAndre Smelter #18 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 7: Wide Receiver DeAndre Smelter

One of Trent Baalke’s “All-ACL” team picks, wide receiver DeAndre Smelter hardly made a dent in the stat sheet when he was finally able to take the field in 2016.

San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Like a number of other positions, wide receiver figures to be a heated competition towards the bottom end of the depth chart. This means Smelter is competing for a roster spot with 2016 teammate, Aaron Burbridge, as well as new faces in Victor Bolden, Kendrick Bourne, Tim Patrick and others.

It’s likely only one of these makes the cut.

Smelter does have a good size advantage — 6-foot-2 and 227 pounds — which is something few of San Francisco’s other receivers possess.

But Kyle Shanahan’s offense is built more around getting receivers open than size/strength matchups.

While Smelter has shown an increase in stock value at training camp as of late, per NBC Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, it’s hard to see the receiver making the cut.