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.
The San Francisco 49ers did not invest a lot in the wide receiver position this offseason, drafting Aaron Burbridge in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and signing Bryce Treggs and Devon Cajuste as undrafted free agents. This is the same offseason in which it appears as thought they are not going to re-sign Anquan Boldin. That followed a 2015 offseason in which they signed Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson in free agency, spent a fourth round pick on DeAndre Smelter, and signed Dres Anderson, DeAndrew White, and DiAndre Campbell as undrafted free agents.
The team has plenty of questions in the depth chart after Torrey Smith, and that could open the door to significant opportunities for the younger receivers added last year. Dres Anderson would seemingly be one such option, and it sounds like he is getting some opportunities to prove himself this offseason.
The 49ers signed Anderson, the son of notable Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Flipper Anderson, as a UDFA out of the University of Utah. He received $50,000 in guaranteed money, including a $6,000 signing bonus, and a $44,000 base salary guarantee. That did not guarantee anything as far as a roster spot was concerned, but it seemed to indicate he stood a good chance of earning a spot on the practice squad.
Anderson ended up getting no snaps in the preseason, and it would seem there was some kind of injury. He was placed on injured reserve during the first round of roster cuts. It could have been a phantom injury, but if that was the case, one would have expected him to get at least a little bit of work if that was the case. Whatever the injury, it was not enough to keep him from practicing in full during the recent offseason workout program. At one point, when Quinton Patton was briefly sidelined, Anderson found himself getting a bit of first team work.
Scouting reports
Basic info
Age: 23
Experience: 1 accrued season
Height: 6'2
Weight: 190 lbs
Contract Status
He is entering the second season of a three-year contract. Spending a season on injured reserve still allows a player to accrue a year toward free agency. If he had spent the season on the NFI list, he would not have accrued that season. Anderson will have a base salary of $450,000, and a cap hit of $452,000.
What to expect in 2016
There is a lot of opportunity this year for young receivers. Torrey Smith will get big snaps, but after that, there is a lot open with Anquan Boldin's departure. Anderson brings solid size, although he could potentially use a few more pounds. But at 6'2, he's got impressive height that Chip Kelly likes. If he can earn a roster spot, while I would be surprised to see him in the starting lineup, I do think any receiver on the roster will find themselves getting a decent amount of work. At least one would probably be inactive, so we could see him in that mix as well. But I think any of the young wide receivers could be in for a breakout season in this offense.
Odds of making the roster
The front office obviously likes him considering the sizable guarantee last year, and keeping him around on injured reserve (well, assuming it wasn't actually a huge season-ending injury, in which case there would have been an injury settlement). And getting thoroughly in the mix for snaps is a big plus. But there are a lot of receivers on the roster. I think he stands an excellent shot of earning a practice squad spot, but it's going to be a tough climb to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. I would list him as weak bubble for the time being.