49ers’ 2018 ‘Who Is?’ series: Wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr.
By Peter Panacy
In this Niner Noise “Who Is?” installment, we look at San Francisco 49ers second-year wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. and project his chances for the 2018 season.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. was a pleasant addition to the team’s 53-man roster in 2017, earning his way on after a solid preseason with some notable special teams contributions.
The 5-foot-8, 178-pound former Oregon State product didn’t make a splash on offense his rookie season, though, contributing modestly on special teams as a returner only.
And even those numbers were so-so at best:
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/12/2018.
In December, Bolden’s inaugural NFL campaign was cut short by an ankle injury, and he spent the rest of 2017 on injured reserve.
His projection for this season looked relatively safe. But that was before the Niners added additional return options in Washington’s Dante Pettis, Kansas State’s D.J. Reed and Middle Tennessee State’s Richie James in the 2018 NFL Draft.
All three put Bolden’s role, and perhaps his roster spot, in jeopardy this season.
With that as a backdrop, what should fans expect from Bolden heading towards the regular season?
Why Victor Bolden Improves in 2018
Speed is an integral part of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. And while Bolden’s 4.53 40-yard dash time at his pro day isn’t exactly eye-popping, it’s his elusiveness and ability to accelerate in open space that should catch your attention.
If you forgot, just recall this touchdown kickoff return versus the Kansas City Chiefs last preseason:
This was certainly key in Bolden making the 53-man roster a year ago. And while he was a non-factor on offense, this explosive ability is something that has more than enough merit.
A full year at the NFL level should do some good too, giving him a better understanding on pro-level coverage units.
Why He’ll Regress
Despite the promise Bolden flashed in the preseason, those efforts didn’t exactly carry over into the regular season.
Sure, Bolden’s 2017 efforts were cut short by injury. But his return marks weren’t exactly top tier. His 5.8 punt-return yardage average ranked 58th in the league, while his 20.8 kick-return yardage average ranked 54th.
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Not exactly a way to separate himself from the pack.
And, at 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds, Bolden would project as little more than a slot wide receiver if ever given a chance on offense.
That’s a crowded spot, which raises the next question.
Chances Victor Bolden Makes the 49ers’ Roster in 2018
Bolden will have to outperform some of the Niners’ draft additions to have a shot. Pettis, who had 1,274 punt-return yards and nine touchdowns over his four-year collegiate stretch, is arguably one of the best return men in NCAA history.
The 49ers will likely save Pettis for offensive contributions, although maybe not right away. And with both James and Reed competing for return duties, the crowd on special teams is pretty thick.
Not to mention San Francisco slot receiver Trent Taylor, who averaged 9.4 yards per punt return last year.
All this pushes Bolden to the periphery. Based off a pre-training camp projection, he’s likely stuck somewhere between the strong- and weak-bubble watch for the 53-man roster. On one hand, it wouldn’t be too tough to distinguish himself among rookie competition.
But on the other, there’s a lot of the competition already. And the Niners will want a slot-type receiver to contribute in more ways than just modestly on special teams.
Next: Why 49ers' return-duty battles are intriguing in training camp
It’s a bit of an uphill climb for Bolden, so keep an eye on how well he performs leading up to Week 1.