San Francisco 49ers OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason

Disclaimer: The Bay Area media—me included—saw just two days of the San Francisco 49ers’ first two weeks of OTAs.

So when I tell you which Niners players are making names for themselves this offseason, keep in mind that I’m seeing just glimpses of the truth—shadows on the wall of a cave.

But seeing two practices is better than seeing no practices. I’ve seen more than four hours of 49ers OTAs, and I’ve gotten a sense of which players are standing out so far.

In ascending order, here are the top five 49ers OTA standouts worth keeping an eye on this offseason.

5. Garrett Celek, Tight End

David Seelig/Associated Press

Tight end Garrett Celek made the best catch of Friday’s practice, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

The catch came on the second-to-last play of 11-on-11 team drills. Celek was playing with the third-team offense and undrafted rookie quarterback Dylan Thompson. Thompson threw a long pass down the middle of the field, and Celek made a running one-handed catch.

By my count, during Friday’s practice, Celek made two other catches—one while covered by All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Celek beat him for a 10-yard gain near the left sideline.

Celek missed 13 games last season due to back and ankle injuries. The previous two seasons, he played 25 games, primarily as the Niners’ No. 3 tight end.

Like his brother Brent, Garrett excels at run blocking. And even though he has made only eight catches during his NFL career, he looked like a terrific receiver Friday afternoon. He probably will make the team if he continues to catch the ball like he did Friday.

4. Blake Bell, Tight End

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Rookie tight end Blake Bell played with the second-team offense Friday, meaning he played with backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Bell seemed like Gabbert’s favorite target during team drills. They connected three times. Once during 11-on-11s, Bell lunged and caught an overthrown pass down the middle, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

Later, during seven-on-sevens, Bell beat second-round pick Jaquiski Tartt over the middle for a 15-yard catch. Two plays later, Bell beat veteran safety Craig Dahl over the middle for a 15-yard catch.

Bell seems like a natural receiver—good hands, subtle moves to free himself against man coverage. But can the former quarterback block? That’s the question. If he can, he might become the No. 2 tight end as a rookie.

3. Kendall Hunter, Running Back

George Nikitin/Associated Press

Starting running back Carlos Hyde has missed the first two weeks of OTAs with a leg injury. “It’s not even a hamstring,” head coach Jim Tomsula said after Friday’s practice. “It’s a muscle pull.”

With Hyde on the sideline, Kendall Hunter—not Reggie Bush—has been the starting running back in practice, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Last year, Hunter tore his ACL making a simple cut at the beginning of training camp, and he missed the entire season. But the season before, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry as Frank Gore’s primary backup.

When Hunter is healthy, he’s terrific running outside the tackles. He has speed to get to the edge of the defense, quickness to dart through defenders, balance to pick up yards after contact and strength to fall forward.

He seemed healthy Friday, although he wasn’t wearing pads and no one hit him—no live contact during OTAs. But he seemed quick and explosive. On the first running play of team drills, he received a handoff from Colin Kaepernick, burst around the left tackle and ran 10 yards downfield before anyone touched him.

If Hunter stays healthy, he has a chance to beat out Bush as the Niners’ No. 2 running back.

2. Jerome Simpson, Wide Receiver

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Jerome Simpson seems like the early front-runner to be the Niners' No. 3 receiver next season.

He’s competing with third-year receiver Quinton Patton, second-year receiver Bruce Ellington and undrafted rookie receiver Dres Anderson.

Ellington didn’t participate in Friday’s practice (hamstring injury, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com). During team drills, Anderson caught a few short passes. I didn’t see Patton catch any.

Simpson made two great catches. On the first play of team drills, Kaepernick threw a laser that sailed high and toward the sideline. Simpson jumped and caught it over Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea, flipped, landed on his feet and kept running, according to Maiocco.

Later, Simpson beat second-year cornerback Dontae Johnson for a 60-yard catch down the right sideline, per Maiocco.

If Simpson plays during the preseason like he played in practice Friday, he’ll run away with the No. 3 receiver job.

1. Keith Reaser, Cornerback

Uncredited/Associated Press

The Niners drafted cornerback Keith Reaser in the fifth round last year. He tore his ACL during his senior year at Florida Atlantic University and missed his rookie season with the Niners, but he runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, according to NFL.com. And if he hadn’t torn his ACL, he might have been a second- or third-round pick.

On one play during team drills Friday afternoon, Reaser was covering Simpson, according to Maiocco. Simpson broke to the inside and shook Reaser momentarily. Gabbert spotted Simpson and threw him the ball.

As soon as Gabbert started his motion, Reaser burst toward Simpson. By the time the ball arrived, Reaser was standing in front of Simpson, ready to intercept the pass. He dropped it.

Reaser is a dark horse to be the starting right cornerback. He’s competing with veteran Shareece Wright and second-year corner Dontae Johnson.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow @grantcohn.