The San Francisco 49ers are a week and a half away from the start of training camp, which means the downtime is just about set to come to a close. While we prepare for that, I came across a fun idea over at our Packers blog, Acme Packing Company. They had five of their writers rank out the team’s entire 88-man roster (indeed, they still have two spots available), and come up with a composite ranking. You’ll be stunned to learn that Aaron Rodgers finished in first place.
I spoke with ten of our contributors, and we each put together our rankings of the 49ers entire 90-man roster. It was a blind ranking, with each person submitting their rankings to me. I then created a composite ranking, which will be revealed over the next nine days, ten players at a time. After that is complete, I will post the individual rankings, along with comments from each voter on any particularly notable high or low ranked players. The voters included myself, Pat Holloway, James Brady, Tracy (49ersfangirl), Billy from the Nuggets, Jason Hurley, Greg Valerio, Oscar and David from Better Rivals, Alex Rubenstein who does video work for SB Nation, and Jennifer Chan.
Since this is entirely subjective, I did not provide a specific framework for voting. I simply told them to factor in injuries and the Aaron Lynch suspension, and figure it out from there. This could shuffle around plenty between now and the team’s final roster cuts. Here are spots 31-40.
40. DuJuan Harris, RB (High: 26, Low: 72)
39. Shaun Draughn, RB (High: 25, Low: 63)
There are a few positions where players are so close in certain respects that it makes sense when they show up next to each other in the vote. The 49ers signed Draughn to start after Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush got hurt. The team later signed Harris to start after Draughn got hurt himself. Draughn was a decent option, while Harris showed a little more upside in limited action. Harris seems like the option who could do a little more in Chip Kelly’s offense, but as veterans who have bounced around the league, neither jumps out as a clear impact player.
38. Bradley Pinion, P (High: 18, Low: 79)
The 49ers spent a fifth round pick on Pinion, following that up by trading Andy Lee to the Cleveland Browns. Pinion had some inconsistencies, but overall was pretty solid as a rookie. The next step is to gain some consistency, and considering the questions on offense, maybe he gets plenty of opportunities in 2016.
37. Will Redmond, CB (High: 28, Low: 67)
The 49ers spent a third round pick on Redmond, who might be the latest potential ACL All Star. Trent Baalke said he would be ready for training camp, which is more than he has said for past ACL players. That being said, it’s hard to accept that as gospel until we actually see Redmond on the field. We’ll find out this week if he opens camp on the NFI list. When he does eventually get on the field, the plan is for him to compete for work as a slot corner.
36. Andrew Tiller, OG (High: 31, Low: 55)
The 49ers signed Tiller as a UDFA in 2014. He spent his rookie season on the practice squad, and opened 2015 on the practice squad. However, he was promoted to the 53-man roster in Week 5 once it became clear Jordan Devey was not the answer. He eventually moved into the starting lineup, officially starting four games at right guard and three game at left guard. This offseason, the 49ers signed Zane Beadles and drafted Joshua Garnett, raising questions about Tiller’s role this fall.
35. Quinton Patton, WR (High: 25, Low: 56)
The 49ers spent a fourth round pick on Patton in 2013, and it has taken time for him to develop any kind of role. He was primarily a special teams player his first two seasons, but then had 30 receptions for 394 yards last season. He spent much of the offseason workout program starting opposite Torrey Smith, but when pads go on, we’ll see what kind of competition the various other options provide.
34. Vance McDonald, TE (High: 19, Low: 53)
There’s always room for division with Vance McDonald. The 49ers spent a second round pick on McDonald in 2013, and we’re still waiting for the big breakthrough. Like Patton, McDonald struggled his first two seasons, and then saw an increase in opportunities in 2015. McDonald’s struggles his first two seasons were due to a mix of injuries and bad hands. In 2015, he missed two games due to injury, but otherwise got more opportunities with Vernon Davis’s decline and departure. He would seem to be a front-runner for significant tight end time in 2016, but the hands remain a question mark.
33. Eric Rogers, WR (High: 17, Low: 70)
The 49ers signed Rogers out of the CFL in January, with a signing bonus of $125,000, and a first year salary guarantee of $100,000. He led the CFL in yards, receptions, and touchdowns last season. Chip Kelly looked into him near the end of his Eagles tenure, and Rogers was among his first calls after joining the 49ers. Rogers has the size Kelly likes, and development time in Canada could bode well for his chances of making an early impact with the 49ers.
32. Kenneth Acker, CB (High: 18, Low: 62)
The 49ers spent a sixth round pick on Acker in 2014, and he spent his rookie season on injured reserve. In 2015, Acker earned not only a roster spot, but a starting role opposite Tramaine Brock. He had his ups and downs, and eventually was replaced by Dontae Johnson. Jimmie Ward has moved to the outside corner spot opposite Brock, so Acker’s status is unclear.
31. Tank Carradine, OLB (High: 21, Low: 52)
The 49ers spent a second round pick on Carradine in 2013. He was recovering from a torn ACL, and rehab setbacks cost him his rookie season. He appeared in nine games in 2014, and had one sack as a defensive tackle, but it was an inconsistent season. He got some opportunities in 2015, but the team finally realized he was not being properly utilized as a 290+ pound defensive tackle. And so, they had him begin the process of cutting weight to move into an edge rusher role. He spent the offseason workout program doing outside linebacker work, and will compete for a role there. Aaron Lynch’s departure opens plenty of pass rusher work early in the season.
41-50
41. Ronald Blair, DT
42. Tony Jerod-Eddie, DT
43. Mike Purcell, DT
44. DeAndre Smelter, WR
45. Keith Reaser, CB
46. Rashard Robinson, CB
47. Trent Brown, OT
48. Fahn Cooper, OL
49. L.J. McCray, S
50. Kyle Nelson, LS
51-60
51. Marcus Cromartie, DB
52. Ray-Ray Armstrong, ILB
53. Jerome Simpson, WR
54. DeAndrew White, WR
55. Corey Lemonier, OLB
56. John Theus, OL
57. Kelvin Taylor, RB
58. Brandon Thomas, OG
59. Marcus Martin, OG/C
60. Erik Pears, OT
61-70
61. Aaron Burbridge, WR
62. Mike Davis, RB
63. Jeff Driskel, QB
64. Ian Silberman, OL
65. Shayne Skov, ILB
66. Nick Bellore, ILB
67. Dres Anderson, WR
68. Devon Cajuste, WR
69. Kaleb Ramsey, DT
70. DiAndre Campbell, WR
71-80
71. Chris Davis, CB
72. Busta Anderson TE
73. Marcus Rush, OLB
74. Prince Charles Iworah, CB
75. Alex Balducci, OL
76. Kendall Gaskins, RB
77. Thad Lewis, QB
78. Bryce Treggs, WR
79. Jason Fanaika, OLB
80. Colin Kelly, OL
81-90
81. Darren Lake, DT
82. Jered Bell, S
83. Garrison Smith, DT
84. Demetrius Cherry, DL
85. Blake Muir, OL
86. Je’Ron Hamm, TE
87. Wynton McManis, ILB
88. John Lunsford, K
89. Lenny Jones, OLB
90. Norman Price, OL