San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 training camp position battles to watch in 2018
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Wide Receiver
Players on Roster: Steven Dunbar, Richie James, Dante Pettis, Aldrick Robinson, Max McCaffrey, Trent Taylor, Marquise Goodwin, Aaron Burbridge, Kendrick Bourne, Victor Bolden, Pierre Garçon
The 49ers are currently carrying 11 wide receivers on their 90-man offseason roster. Four of those — Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor and Dante Pettis — are locks to make the 53-man cut.
San Francisco 49ers
Things get interesting at the back end of the depth chart, though.
Teams typically carry no more than six wideouts in the regular season, and the latter portions are expected to contribute on special teams. This might give players like Aaron Burbridge, who has largely been a non-factor on offense in his career, a better chance to stick around.
Second-year wideout Kendrick Bourne was a major standout during OTAs, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Should that trend continue, he’d likely be the fifth option on the depth chart.
Just like that, six spots are filled.
Yet the Niners still lack something of a red-zone threat. After finishing 27th in red-zone touchdown efficiency a year ago, a player like the 6-foot-3 Steven Dunbar might have an outside chance.
But Dunbar would have to showcase his value on special teams above that of Burbridge to make the cut.
It’s a lofty proposal, one worth watching. But the bigger aspect will be seeing how some of the younger receivers, namely Pettis and fellow rookie Richie James, push the veterans for spots.