5 Dark-Horse Candidates to Make San Francisco 49ers' Final 53-Man Roster

You don’t have to dig deep to find dark horses who can make the San Francisco 49ers’ final roster in 2015.

On the offense alone, I count five serious dark horses.

One is someone you may not have heard of in 26-year-old offensive lineman Andrew Tiller. He spent time on the Niners’ practice squad last season and played well during OTAs and minicamp.

Another dark horse is a quarterback: South Carolina product and undrafted rookie Dylan Thompson. He didn’t play particularly well during OTAs and minicamp, but neither did his competition—veteran backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Here are the top five dark-horse candidates to make the Niners’ final 53-man roster in 2015.

Trey Millard, Fullback, 2nd Year

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

The 49ers’ 12th and final draft pick of 2014 was former Oklahoma fullback Trey Millard.

Coaches voted Millard a first-team Big 12 performer in three straight years from 2011 to 2013. But he tore his ACL in October 2013, which was the primary reason he dropped to the seventh round of the 2014 draft.

Millard spent his rookie season on the injured reserve list, but he’s healthy now—a full participant during OTAs and minicamp.

He probably won’t make the team in 2015 as a fullback because the Niners already have one of the best—Bruce Miller—and probably don’t need two.

But Millard isn’t just a fullback. He can play H-back as well because he can catch passes. He has a chance to make the team as the fourth tight end behind Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald and Blake Bell.

Busta Anderson, Tight End, Rookie

Uncredited/Associated Press

Competing with Millard for the fourth tight end spot on the Niners’ roster is 2015 seventh-round draft pick and former South Carolina tight end Busta Anderson.

Anderson was the 254th pick in the draft—two away from Mr. Irrelevant. So he seems like a long shot to make the final roster, although he doesn’t seem like such a long shot when you consider what 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said right after the draft.

“It just so happened that Arizona, the pick or two right after us, took a tight end,” Baalke said. “Maybe (Anderson) was the guy (Arizona wanted). If he was the highest-rated tight end and we were able to keep that from happening, more power to us.”

Baalke might worry that if he cuts Anderson and tries to sneak him on to the Niners’ practice squad, the Cardinals will claim him off waivers and give him a spot on their 53-man roster.

Baalke might give Anderson a spot on the final roster just to prevent the Cardinals from getting him.

Andrew Tiller, Offensive Lineman, 4th Year

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Andrew Tiller (middle) took reps at left guard with the first-team offense during OTAs.

Six offensive linemen are locks to make the final roster: Joe Staley, Alex Boone, Daniel Kilgore, Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas and Erik Pears.

After those six, eight offensive linemen are competing for two or three spots.

The favorites to win those spots are 2012 fourth-round pick Joe Looney, 2015 sixth-round pick Ian Silberman and 2015 seventh-round pick Trent Brown. But the Niners are committed to none of those three and probably would cut one of them if another young offensive lineman forced the issue.

The dark horse to take one of their jobs is Andrew Tiller, a sixth-round draft pick in 2012. Tiller spent the past three seasons on various practice squads, including the Niners’ practice squad last season.

During OTAs this offseason, Tiller played left guard with the first-team offense (starting left guard Alex Boone did not attend OTAs). The coaches must like what they're seeing from Tiller to let him play with the starters.

If Tiller continues to play well during training camp and preseason, and the other young offensive linemen struggle, Tiller will probably make the team.

Dres Anderson, Wide Receiver, Rookie

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

The 49ers’ best undrafted rookie wide receiver during OTAs and minicamp was DeAndrew White. Former Utah wide receiver Dres Anderson didn’t stand out.

But in the grand scheme of things, performances during May and June probably mean nothing. The players play in shorts and t-shirts with no pads—basically flag football.

White clearly is fantastic at flag football. Anderson might be better at tackle football. He certainly was during college. Anderson was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 player in 2013. White was never an honorable mention at Alabama.

Anderson will get his chance to prove himself during the preseason. If he plays well and White doesn’t, Anderson will make the team and White won’t, and no one will care which player played better during May and June.

Dylan Thompson, Quarterback, Rookie

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

I’ve watched Blaine Gabbert play more often than anyone ever should have to.

I watched him during the offseason last year and this year, and he never gets better. The man cannot throw accurately more than 10 yards downfield. So he dinks and dunks, and neither his dink nor his dunk are particularly accurate.

Gabbert is the king of making running backs and tight ends dive for passes in the flat.

If rookie undrafted quarterback Dylan Thompson shows during preseason that he can throw to the flat and downfield without turning the ball over, he will show more than Gabbert ever has.

Thompson has a low bar to clear to win the Niners' No. 2 quarterback job.

All quotations and practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow @grantcohn.