San Francisco 49ers: Speculating the biggest position battles in 2018 training camp
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Fourth Wide Receiver
The 49ers didn’t make any splashes at wide receiver in free agency. From the looks of things, Kyle Shanahan appears confident in receivers Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor manning the top three spots.
Fourth and fifth wideouts on the depth chart often double on special teams and will need to have that ability.
San Francisco has two options here already — Aldrick Robinson and Kendrick Bourne.
Robinson, who worked with Shanahan during their days with the Atlanta Falcons, was brought aboard last year to primarily teach the head coach’s offense. He had 19 grabs for 260 yards and two touchdowns, although Bourne — who’s three inches taller (6-foot-1) than Robinson — might be the player to win out here.
Bourne had 257 yards on 16 receptions last year. He might be the player to watch, although this competition could get even more interesting if San Francisco adds a tall, red-zone threat in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.