49ers’ 2018 ‘Who Is?’ series: Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne

In this Niner Noise “Who Is?” look on San Francisco 49ers players in 2018, we peek at second-year wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and project his impact this season.

Rare are the undrafted free agents who find their way to an NFL roster in year one. Even rarer are the ones who make a notable impact.

Such is the case, however, with San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne who, after going undrafted in 2017, ended up putting together a solid season for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co.

Sure, Bourne’s 257 receiving yards on 16 receptions aren’t exactly eye-popping. But if you recall his Week 15 efforts versus the Tennessee Titans last year — four catches for 85 yards — it’s not hard to see why the Niners are excited about Bourne’s second year at the pro level.

In case you forgot, here’s Bourne’s 54-yard reception from that game, courtesy of The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen:

Bourne will be challenged in year two, though, namely to some of the other receiver additions the team made via the 2018 NFL Draft. Rookies, like Washington’s Dante Pettis and MTSU’s Richie James, will be vying for roster spots.

And amid an already crowded wide receiver crop heading into training camp, how precarious is Bourne’s hold on a job with San Francisco?

Let’s take a deeper look.

Why Kendrick Bourne Improves in 2018

Aside from the prototypical “year two of development” argument, which is always important, what should fans expect from Bourne in terms of his overall maturation?

For starters, general manager John Lynch already had some positive things to say, according to Joe Fann of 49ers.com:

OK, so exactly how?

For starters, Boune — at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds — already has something on his side many of the other Niners receivers do not: size. Remember, the 49ers’ receiving corps last year was the shortest, on average, in the NFL.

Bourne’s 4.68 40-yard dash time at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t particularly record setting. But his ability to use both physicality and separation are the traits he’ll likely rely upon to ensure a roster spot.

Why He Regresses

The competition at wide receiver is going to be pretty stiff this season. Bourne was already relatively low on the depth chart last year, namely behind wideouts Pierre Garçon (half the season), Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor.

With Pettis’ addition, it’s possible Bourne has a tougher chance to crack the roster.

San Francisco 49ers

More on that in a second, but where it hurts is the number of reps and looks he’ll get during OTAs and training camp this season. Bourne may not get a lot of work with the first-team unit, therefore showcasing his talents against second- and third-rate defensive backs when practices start ramping up later this month.

That isn’t bad, per se, but it opens up the door for another player on the depth chart to surpass him.

Chances of Making the 49ers’ 53-Man Roster

Bourne shouldn’t be viewed as a lock. If anything, he’s on the stronger side of the bubble.

Lynch’s comments are assuring, yet that was before the Niners added Pettis and James in the NFL Draft. Both could easily push Bourne down the roster chart heading towards Week 1.

Where Bourne wins, though, is with his size. While it’s not as major a factor in Shanahan’s offense, Bourne could wind up being one of the few reliable red-zone threats — someone capable of winning the key one-on-one battles in confined spaces.

Next: 5 reasons why 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo gets even better in 2018

He’ll have to demonstrate this on a regular basis during camp. And while there’s no guarantee he’ll be a part of the 53-man roster this fall, his chances are as good as any out of the depth crop of San Francisco receivers.