Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Early look at 10 players on the 2018 roster bubble

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys is pushed out of bounds by Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys is pushed out of bounds by Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 25: End Pita Taumoepenu #50 of the Utah Utes tackles tail back Javorius Allen #37 of the USC Trojans during their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images )
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 25: End Pita Taumoepenu #50 of the Utah Utes tackles tail back Javorius Allen #37 of the USC Trojans during their game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images ) /

No. 7: EDGE Pita Taumoepenu

The 49ers certainly hurt for the pass rush this season, finishing 26th in the NFL with 30 sacks.

For most of the year, the Niners were left scrambling for pass-rushing options off the edge. And while the veteran, Elvis Dumervil, filled in nicely, there was a clear lack of depth from this vital spot.

Former Utah EDGE Pita Taumoepenu was little more than a developmental prospect when the Niners took him in Round 6 of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was raw, but promising.

But that promise amounted to him being inactive for all but two games over the course of his rookie season. And he never saw a single on-field snap.

Like a number of positions, a pass-rusher off the outside will be of high priority for San Francisco’s offseason plans. It’s not likely the Niners are ready to close the door on Taumoepenu just yet, rather they’d likely be inclined to give that spot on the 53-man roster to someone else.

This would mean Taumoepenu would be demoted to the practice squad, assuming he makes it there, where hopefully the 49ers can turn his potential into something workable down the road.