49ers roster, 90-in-90 breakdowns: Carter Bykowski

Each year, we like to run a series of posts called "90-in-90." The idea is that we'll take a look at every player on the roster, from the very bottom to the top and break them down a few ways. This roster will certainly change, and some days we'll have more than one so it's not exactly 90 players in 90 days. At this point, it's a name we're keeping around for street cred.

The San Francisco 49ers hold their rookie minicamp this weekend. It will feature their draft picks, undrafted free agents, and tryout candidates. However, it will also feature a handful of second year players that retain first year eligibility. Players that were on the practice squad the whole year, or spent the season on the NFI list are eligible to participate in the rookie camp. They take part because it's three more days of work they would not be able to get if they were not rookies.

Given the timing of it, I figured I would use some of the upcoming 90-in-90 posts on a few of the eligible players in this group. Today, we start with offensive tackle Carter Bykowski. The 49ers used one of their three 7th round picks in the 2013 NFL Draft on Bykowski, and he's the only one of the three to stick. He got some opportunities late in preseason games, and did enough to earn a spot on the practice squad. He spent the entire season with the practice squad.

Why he might improve:

The Iowa State product was able to spend the 2013 season learning from Mike Solari, Tim Drevno, and of course Joe Staley and Anthony Davis. He has had the size to play tackle, but could conceivably move inside to guard if need be. From the scouting reports out there, it sounds like he was a bit of a late bloomer that still had work to do to clean up his game. Who knows what a full year has done for his development process.

Why he might regress:

The only way he regresses at this point is if he struggles so much that the team decides he is not worth another year on the practice squad. He's got the size, but if he does not boost his strength, he could easily be lapped on this depth chart.

Odds of making the roster:

Bykowski is not a favorite for a roster spot yet, but he will be right in the mix of the competition for the swing tackle role with Jonathan Martin, Luke Marquardt, Adam Snyder, Fou Fonoti and Al Netter. Nobody is a lock for anything, so if Bykowski has shown improvement, there is a huge opportunity there for him. At the same time, I would argue Martin is probably the closest to favorite status in this group. Adam Snyder could end up getting another year with the team, but I see the 49ers going a little bit cheaper and younger. I think Bykowski ends up spending another season on the practice squad, if he is not claimed off waivers at the end of camp.