On Friday, the San Francisco 49ers made their first decision at the wide receiver position by releasing Aldrick Robinson. Kyle Shanahan has said that the easier decisions would come on Friday, and Robinson was one of the first to go.
Robinson is no slouch at wide receiver. He managed 260 yards in 2017, being there for the entire season and offering that veteran presence the 49ers—and the wide receivers by extension—sorely needed.
Well, he was shown the door. That’s one decision made, and it’s only going to get harder from there. The 49ers have Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor,and Dante Pettis as locks. At first it seemed like Kendrick Bourne could have been a part of those locks but I’m not sure. Richie James has impressed in training camp and very well may have pushed Bourne out to a job.
Outside of those we have Aaron Burbridge and Victor Bolden Jr. Bolden is suspended to start the season, but given the competition, he may just get shown the door before the 49ers even try to wait out a suspension. Burbridge has shown up in a big way, but he unfortunately isn’t one of the guys brought in by Kyle Shanahan, so that could make him expendable.
Of all the roster changes, wide receiver may be the most open and competitive. It will be interesting to see who makes the team, and Shanahan’s thinking process in solidifying the unit for 2018.