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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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 6: Guard Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares for a game against the New Orleans Saints on November, 6 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Saints won 41-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 6: Guard Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers prepares for a game against the New Orleans Saints on November, 6 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Saints won 41-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Offensive Guard Joshua Garnett

The current 49ers regime previously noted it had zero loyalty to players selected high by former general manager Trent Baalke. Each draftee would have to prove himself to the new coaching staff.

Such is the case with former first-round selection, offensive guard Joshua Garnett, who was lost to injured reserve with a knee injury during training camp.

Garnett struggled his rookie season, and one can only guess what his impact would have been like in 2017. While he recovered, the Niners asked Garnett to work on his body composition to be a better fit within head coach Kyle Shanahan’s blocking scheme.

We’ll have to see how well this works, and it isn’t every day a team can boast an Outland Trophy recipient on its roster — awarded to the best interior offensive lineman in college football.

Still, the 49ers could still seek upgrades.

As noted earlier, the interior of the O-line is one of the biggest issues facing San Francisco this offseason. Garnett has some relative roster safety because of this.

But if the Niners bring in a high-profile free agent, or tab someone like Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson in the NFL Draft, Garnett’s hold on a roster spot becomes a little more precarious.