San Francisco 49ers: Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne a breakout sleeper for 2018
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t grab a wide receiver in free agency, which could be seen as a nice endorsement for second-year pro Kendrick Bourne. And we should expect big things from him in 2018.
It’s rare to see undrafted free agents make notable splashes their first year at the NFL level.
And while San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne’s 2017 numbers don’t exactly suggest the eye-popping variety, there are plenty of reasons to suggest his second campaign will be one of note for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co.
Shanahan and the Niners didn’t bring in any of the big-name free-agent wide receivers this offseason. While additional options could reveal themselves during the upcoming NFL Draft this April, it appears as if Shanahan is comfortable with the names he already has.
At 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, Bourne already has a significant size advantage over some of his shorter counterparts — receivers like Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor, whose smallish size mandate separation over physicality.
A UDFA out of Eastern Washington, Bourne didn’t make much of an impact until Week 9 versus the Arizona Cardinals. From that point onward, Bourne had notable, if not stellar, impacts until a game-changing grab in the Niners’ win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 14.
You know, this 54-yard grab in the fourth quarter:
There’s a lot to like here. And let’s break down why fans should be excited about Bourne’s possible impact this upcoming season.
San Francisco 49ers
What the 49ers Could Get out of Kendrick Bourne in 2018
Eric Crocker over at Fourth and Nine did an excellent film review of Bourne’s skill set last season.
One thing Crocker pointed out — and is illustrated in the above clip — is Bourne’s ability to create yards after the catch. Forty-one of those 54 yards came after the reception. And in a Shanahan offense, predicated on getting guys open, this ability can be vital.
There are two key elements in doing this successfully — acceleration and shiftiness. Crocker’s clips highlight both, as Bourne is both explosive after making the catch and more than capable of “breaking” defensive backs’ ankles.
A third element, not to be overlooked, is sheer strength. Bourne isn’t huge, per se, but his 203-pound frame is more than adequate to handle some of the press coverage he faced last season.
With some technique refinement, Bourne has the chance to develop into a very solid receiver.
Solving a Key 49ers Weakness
San Francisco’s offense could be very exciting in 2018. But if there’s one area of concern, it’s the red zone.
A year ago, the Niners finished 27th in red-zone touchdown percentage (47 percent). Not having addressed this aspect over the offseason thus far, personnel-wise, the 49ers may experiment with using Bourne in more red-zone packages where he can put those traits to good use.
One of the other key attributes to look at here is how well Bourne catches the ball. Out of 17 catchable passes last year, Bourne dropped just one, per Pro Football Focus. That’s not bad for a receiver with only modest expectations entering the NFL.
Bourne has yet to find the end zone at the NFL level. But he did have a nice fade-route grab on a two-point conversion attempt against the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason:
Size, hands and strength. They’re all on display right there.
Bourne now has a full year at the pro level under his belt. And the fact the Niners didn’t go out and grab a big-name receiver on the open market possibly speaks to their confidence in his abilities.
We don’t know if Bourne winds up developing into a solid receiving option for San Francisco this year or beyond.
Next: Refuting complaints about 49ers' 2018 free-agent class
But based off all the data and film, he has an excellent chance to do so.