Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest cornerstone players heading into 2018

By Peter Panacy

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass in the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass in the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks for a 30 yard first down run after a catch in fron of Cre’von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks for a 30 yard first down run after a catch in fron of Cre’von LeBlanc #22 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The 49ers defeated the Bears 15-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Wide Receiver Trent Taylor

One of John Lynch’s gems from the 2017 NFL Draft, slot wide receiver Trent Taylor could wind up being a key factor in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

First, the stats tell us enough. Taylor is third on the team in receiving yards (382) and fourth in receptions (38). And there’s this to consider back from Dec. 11:

Taylor, who led all of college football in receiving yards in 2016 (1,803), will be asked to run the wide array of interior routes — the ones common for slot-type receivers.

This is where quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has shown prowess, meaning a Garoppolo-to-Taylor connection, as we’ve seen at times lately, could be a regular thing in coming years.

Good for Taylor, and good for the 49ers offense. He’s a player worth building around.