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Here at Niners Nation, we're presenting a series called "90-in-90". We'll be looking at every player on the 49ers offseason roster, one player per post, from now until the start of training camp.
Today is sort of the random free agent additions day of 90-in-90. A week before the draft, the 49ers announced the signing of tight end Cameron Morrah. The 49ers had let Delanie Walker leave town in free agency as he got a sizable contract from the Tennessee Titans. That left them with Vernon Davis and Garrett Celek. A week after signing Morrah, the 49ers drafted Vance McDonald, and signed MarQueis Gray to convert to a tight end/h-back type of role.
Morrah spent the first three years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, who had selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 draft. In three seasons he had 16 catches for 194 yards. He injured his toe in 2012 and was waived/injured at the end of training camp. He sat out last season before signing with the 49ers in April.
What to expect in 2013
If Morrah were to make the team, the 49ers would be looking at him as a joker-style tight end, somewhat in the mold of Delanie Walker. Morrah is physically talented, but he has struggled to move up the depth chart because of the talent in front of him and his own inconsistent health. I spoke briefly with Danny Kelly from Field Gulls, and he had some comments about Morrah. He described Morrah as a very good athlete with potential, and a sort of poor man's Delanie Walker. During his career, he was behind John Carlson and then Zach Miller.
Morrah seems to have the skills to make an impact, but just can't stay healthy. The problem for him is where he fits on the depth chart. As a second-round pick, Vance McDonald would seem to be the guy to secure that No. 2 tight end role, but given how the 49ers "redshirted" guys last year, who knows how that will play out.
Odds of making the roster
I think his odds are somewhere below 50%, and that might be kind. While talented, Morrah faces a tough number-crunch at the position. Vance McDonald would have to be the favorite to secure the No. 2 spot. That leaves the number three tight end spot, which strikes me as more about the blocking than the receiving. Celek wasn't a highlight reel guy, but he did the nitty-gritty work to take care of business. That might be too much for Morrah to overcome. My prediction at this point is that he does not make the roster. Feel free to bookmark and then point and laugh if he ends up making the roster.