Each year, we run a series of post called "90-in-90" here at Niners Nation. The idea is that we'll take a look at every single player on the roster, from the very bottom to the top and break them down a few different ways. This is to help give everyone a basic understanding of a roster. Of course, this roster will change, and some days we'll have more than one so it's not strictly one per day but you get the idea.
Ahhh yes, Quinton Patton. The General. Once regarded as one of the better draft picks of the 2013 draft. The pick was actually a steal in the draft given that many analysts had him with a 2nd round grade and he went to the San Francisco 49ers in the 4th.
From there, Patton shined in the preseason, showing us the most unorthodox dance moves ever created, provided motivation for The General's Bandwagon (complete with his own sticker) and eventually being quiet in the regular season. And that's Quinton Patton's 49er career in a nutshell. While subsequent years would let him bust out a big play or two (or a game-losing fumble in 2014), Patton largely went unnoticed. This can be blamed on a depth chart placing him behind Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, and later Torrey Smith, some inept offensive playcalling in 2015, or perhaps, there was a reason Patton didn't go when analysts predicted he'd be drafted.
If The General's Bandwagon has truly been dismantled and abandoned, we'll always have the memories of things like this:
In ways, that's probably a good career milestone to look back on. Patton approaches the perfect year to break out and show that he deserves to stick around. With a wide receiver depth chart with no locks besides Torrey Smith, he can make his own destiny.
Basic info
Age: 25 (26 on August 9)
Experience: 3 accrued seasons
Height: 6'0
Weight: 204 lbs
Contract Status
He is on the final year of his four-year rookie contract. His base salary is $675,000, and his cap hit is $772,875. If he plays out this final year, he'll be an unrestricted free agent for next season.
Why he might improve
Now that the 49ers have moved on from last year's atrocious offense, Patton will play in Chip Kelly's up-tempo hurry-up scheme. With his years of experience, combined with this new offense, Patton could very well be gashing defenses left and right. Add in the wide receiver issues mentioned above, and he could make a name for himself very quickly.
Why he might regress
Despite having a few impressive plays every season (the opening series against Arizona in 2013, sealing the game against the same team in 2014, and his TD catch against the Ravens in 2015 are just a few), Patton has been largely quiet. Either his number isn't called, he doesn't get enough separation, or his quarterbacks never notice he's open. That said, Patton has had a hard time getting everything to click in his game and has failed to generate any consistency. Obviously, fans hope Patton can be something special, and like the General, will never give up. But even when the wide receiver issues began last year (with Crabtree and Stevie Johnson departing) Patton's numbers were largely pedestrian. He'll need to step it up with an even more questionable wide receiver corps.
Odds of making the roster
Quinton Patton hasn't really gotten a fair shake in the play calling yet, and if they can work some good packages in with him, he could finally break the glass ceiling. He appears pedestrian, but Chip Kelly might know exactly what to do and how to play to his strengths. Plus, him scoring touchdowns is good for television ratings. Unless the crop of wide receivers display a severe difference in talent, Patton will be on the roster as a way for the front office to decide if he's worth keeping around for next year, but if this season mimics his last three, it could be his final season as a 49er.