Niner Noise
FanSided

3 roster questions the 49ers will have to answer this offseason

By Logan Stanley

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Aldrick Robinson #19 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Aldrick Robinson #19 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Which wide receiver is the odd man out?

Last season, the wide receiver position was not an area the team experienced a luxury at. Now, it’s going to be tough to make the final roster as a wide receiver.

Right now, Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne and Dante Pettis are the only locks to make it in my eyes. In head coach Kyle Shanahan’s first season, he carried six wide receivers.

That leaves one open spot for seven players:

  • Aldrick Robinson
  • Richie James
  • Victor Bolden Jr.
  • Steven Dunbar
  • DeAndre Carter
  • Aaron Burbridge
  • Max McCaffrey

Out of that group, I believe that only four —Robinson, James, Bolden Jr. and Dunbar — are realistic candidates.

Robinson is the veteran of the group and obviously is a favorite of Shanahan’s going back to their days with the Atlanta Falcons. I think he leads the group with the best chances of making the roster considering his leadership ability and familiarity with the system.

But James, a 2018 seventh-round draft selection out of Middle Tennessee State, is hot on the heels of Robinson. Not only is James an explosive and dynamic wide receiver, he also brings a different element to the field.

Bolden Jr. was primarily a kick returner last season, which where he was carved out a spot on the roster for himself. With Pettis and James, Bolden Jr.’s likelihood of making the final 53-man roster has been slimmed.

Dunbar, a undrafted free agent, has exactly the type of body frame the 49ers are seeking. Standing at 6 feet and 3 inches and weighing in at 203 pounds, the size is definitely there.

The rest of the players were all on the practice squad last year and face an outside shot of making the final roster in Week 1.