The San Francisco 49ers are on “summer break.” They’ll return for training camp in about a month and a half. While it seems as though the depth chart is close to set in stone, there are several players with plenty to gain.
We’ll scratch any rookie or free agent addition. It goes without saying that the likes of Osa Odighizuwa and De’Zhaun Stribling have opportunities to make their mark. But what about the players coming back?
We know Mike Evans will be WR1, but Ricky Pearsall has a chance to be one
of the most productive WR2s in the league.
Connor Colby went from a seventh-round rookie who was thrown into the fire, to not playing, to LG1. Robert Jones has the run-blocking pedigree, but Colby is a known commodity. He has everything to gain.
Which returning player has the most to gain for the 49ers?
My answer: I’ll go with Alfred Collins. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are returning from serious knee injuries. Odighizuwa will be the voice that’s heard in the defensive line room. That means the 49ers’ top-50 pick from a year ago will have an opportunity to make his presence felt.
If you remember last summer, Collins missed the entire offseason program during his rookie year with a calf injury. It led to C.J. West being listed ahead of the depth chart. This time around, Collins should be a part of what Fred Warner referred to as a three-headed monster.
Collins is the player who could unlock everything else along the defensive line. He’s a mammoth of a man, which makes it difficult to run in his direction. Collins also frees up the linebackers behind him. Can he bring anything to the table as a pass rusher? Can Collins go from being the guy who helps his teammates make plays to the one finishing and making tackles for loss?
Collins had some memorable splash plays during his rookie season. Come training camp, let’s see if Collins has taken the next step and can become the player the 49ers want him to be.
Who do you think has the most to gain?
