49ers roster: 5 players who would be shocking adds in 2021

No. 1: 49ers Wide Receiver Kevin White

At what point does one give up on a former first-round NFL Draft pick if he hasn’t panned out, leading to the unshakable “bust” moniker? After two years? Three?

Well, for wide receiver Kevin White, maybe year seven is going to be the moment where he turns his career around.

After the 49ers plucked White off the scrapheap a year ago, one might argue he has the best shot in an offensive system that could take advantage of his physical gifts — a 6-foot-3, 216-pound frame and that 4.35 40-yard time he ran before being selected No. 7 overall in the 2015 draft.

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Unfortunately, White’s fans have probably been using this argument for too many years now.

Fortunately, though, the Niners do have a context by which White could make the 53-man roster. Behind the two starters, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, there aren’t exactly a lot of proven options and “locks” to survive cuts. San Francisco is likely to keep six wideouts, meaning there’s plenty of room for underachieving players like White to turn things around.

Especially if Kyle Shanahan sees White as a red-zone specialist or big-slot option, even if the receiver’s previous seasons haven’t exactly gone according to plan.

The 49ers may decide they have better options than White, which will probably be the case.

Or, perhaps, 2021 is the year in which the 2015 first-round pick finally puts it all together.