Why WR Quinton Patton Could Emerge as 49ers' Secret Weapon in 2015

A headline at some point in the upcoming 2015 NFL regular season could read something like this—"Wide receiver Quinton Patton continues to deliver clutch performances for the San Francisco 49ers."

Or Patton could continue to fall into obscurity, which has largely paralleled his two pro years with the 49ers organization.

But what if Patton suddenly becomes the forgotten target that truly turns a once-anemic San Francisco passing game into a legitimate force? This could also happen. Perhaps we should expect it.

Patton was picked up by the 49ers in Round 4 (No. 128 overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. He had a worthwhile collegiate history at Louisiana Tech—totaling 2,594 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns between 2011 and 2012.

He had all the tools to emerge as a formidable slot receiver at a time when San Francisco needed receiving help.

But a foot injury hindered Patton's rookie campaign—limiting him to just six games and a mere five targets. Still, he did have one spectacular grab against the Arizona Cardinals late that season.

Year	Games	Targets	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
2013	6	5	3	34	0
2014	4	8	3	44	0
Total	10	13	6	78	0

In 2014, Patton was pushed back in his maturation after the 49ers acquired wideouts Stevie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd and Bruce Ellington. As a result, Patton appeared in just four games and had only three receptions for 44 yards and one costly fumble in his second season.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson and Lloyd are gone now, as is former No. 1 wideout Michael Crabtree, but the team has added free agents Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson. But without Crabtree, Patton has one fewer receiver with whom to compete.

At least for now.

One might speculate that 49ers general manager Trent Baalke will target a wide receiver or two in the upcoming 2015 NFL draft. While not as deep as last year, the 2015 draft class does offer some enticing targets.

But will San Francisco bite?

According to Baalke (h/t Josh Alper of NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk), players like Ellington and Patton are in line to get more playing time in 2015. They didn't have much of a chance the season prior.

"

Just watched some old Quinton Patton college film. To me he's a very under-utilized player. They need to find a way for him to contribute.

— Miguel (YouGoMango) (@I_am_YouGoMango) March 21, 2015"

So will this thought negate an apparent need for a receiver in the draft?

“Now, is that to say we’re not going to make a pick, look for another wide receiver?” Baalke stated, via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com (h/t Alper). “I’m not saying that at all. But [I] don’t feel like we have to be pressured into making a decision like that.”

Baalke's decision whether or not to take a wideout will affect the competition Patton will undergo during training camp and the preseason. But there are other factors as well.

Simpson's off-the-field concerns are well known—a primary reason why he missed all of the 2014 season. Could these issues, or a general lack of production, force Simpson onto the roster bubble prior to Week 1? 

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

And then there is the case for 34-year-old veteran wideout Anquan Boldin.

Boldin enters a contract year in 2015, and there is no guarantee he'll return to the 49ers, let alone the NFL, after the season. It's a worthwhile argument to suggest the 49ers will entertain in-house options to bolster the receiving corps.

It's a corps that largely struggled last year. The 49ers ranked No. 30 in the league with just 3,063 receiving yards over the season. Would those numbers be higher had Patton seen a larger role?

Perhaps, but San Francisco's passing woes went far beyond his absence.

David Fucillo of Niners Nation describes this further by writing, "Patton has shown a couple instances of play-making as well, but last season's passing attack was inconsistent in a variety of ways."

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Assuming the 49ers want to give players like Patton a bigger shot, what should be expected of him?

Baalke hinted at what his impact could be via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.

"Patton is running extremely well and always could run well for his size. Quinton is a young player who hasn’t really gotten an opportunity; now is his opportunity and let’s see what he can do.”

If Baalke is right, Patton has the right combination of size and speed that San Francisco largely lacked a year ago. The complement of other wideouts may help, but Patton should be a part of the solution.

It also helps to know that quarterback Colin Kaepernick spent time developing more chemistry with Patton and Ellington during an offseason program per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. It can only help.

2015 could easily be the year in which Patton emerges as a bona fide threat. He has shown flashes of brilliance but has yet to seize the opportunity in which that talent can be showcased frequently enough to make a difference.

Should he get that chance, it's entirely possible that 49ers fans should expect added headlines outlining Patton's accolades.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.