San Francisco 49ers: Top 6 biggest offseason winners and losers
By Justin Fried
Loser: Kendrick Bourne
But while the competition in the secondary may be relatively thin, the competition at wide receiver is heating up. The 49ers realized that they needed an influx of talent at the wide receiver position so they addressed the position whole-heartedly in the offseason.
The likes of Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd were selected in consecutive rounds early in the 2019 NFL Draft and veteran Jordan Matthews was brought in to compete for a roster spot as well. This could all be bad news for the 49ers 2018 receiving leader.
San Francisco 49ers
Kendrick Bourne will be entering his third NFL season in 2019 and while he’s a great underdog story who impressed in 2018, his roster spot is far from guaranteed. The only virtual locks at the position on the roster should be considered Samuel, Hurd, Dante Pettis, and Marquise Goodwin.
But after that, the two expected remaining spots are still up in the air.
The undersized Trent Taylor could very well earn a role as a reliable slot receiver leaving either Bourne or Matthews to take on that final spot. And even if Bourne does beat out the veteran, his role in the offense will likely be very limited.
Simply put, Bourne just doesn’t have a defining trait that makes him stand out. He’s a reliable possession receiver who runs fine routes but doesn’t excite anyone with his athleticism or size.
Ultimately, he’s pretty replaceable — as hurtful as that might seem. And unfortunately, the 49ers must’ve thought the same thing when the all but replaced him this offseason.