49ers roster: 3 most overhyped rookies entering training camp

The 49ers aren’t strangers to receiving plenty of attention aimed at their rookie NFL Draft class, yet these three are excessively hyped ahead of training camp.

It’s only natural for San Francisco 49ers fans — and fanbases everywhere, for that matter — to get overly excited about the latest class of rookies heading towards training camp. Each first-year prospect is part of the great unknown, the “mystery box” as Family Guy’s Peter Griffin so enthusiastically got excited about when deciding between it and the boat.

Many a rookie is deserving of the hype. Last year, the Niners’ Round 1 selection of former Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa was worth the attention. Bosa delivered, too, racking up nine sacks en route to both a Pro Bowl nod and being named the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Same with wide receiver Deebo Samuel last season, who seemed tailor-made for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and proved to be so.

At the same time, however, it’s easy to overhype first-year players and automatically assume they’ll wind up being impact contributors early and often. Unfortunately, for every Bosa or Samuel, there are just as many players like running back Joe Williams or offensive guard Joshua Garnett.

Even more, especially if you subscribe to the notion only 50 percent of first-round rookies ever reach expectation levels, and the percentage drops off significantly with each passing round.

Overhyping players is a natural thing to do, of course. We’re guilty of it here at Niner Noise and won’t shy from it. But to pump the breaks a bit on each of these three overhyped players, let’s just try curbing the lofty expectation levels a bit in advance of their rookie campaigns.

None of these players are “bad” picks, per se. Instead, they’re just receiving a bit too much hype.