San Francisco 49ers: Recapping the Latest Buzz Heading into Training Camp

In about four weeks, rumor season will end for the San Francisco 49ers, and training camp will begin.

For two weeks straight, media will watch every single 49ers practice. And instead of the second-hand rumors you read in July, you’ll read firsthand reports about which players are standing out.

And then the preseason will begin, and you’ll see for yourself which players deserve to make the team. Preseason is more important than training camp anyway. You can’t really judge a football player until you see him in live action.

Until then, here is the latest buzz heading into Niners’ training camp.

49ers Expected to Keep at Least 6 Wide Receivers on Final Roster

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Most teams carry no more than five wide receivers on the 53-man roster. According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, next season the Niners may carry more than five.

“I think they’ll keep a total of eight, including practice squad,” wrote Maiocco. “So that could mean 6/2 or 7/1.”

If he’s correct, one or two of the 49ers’ undrafted rookie wide receivers will make the final roster. The most likely candidates would be former Alabama receiver DeAndrew White and former Utah receiver Dres Anderson.

White played extremely well during OTAs and minicamp and can play special teams as well as wide receiver. As long as he stays healthy, he probably will make the final roster.

Anderson is coming off a meniscus tear he suffered his senior season at Utah. He didn’t stand out during minicamp, but he didn’t seem to be pushing himself either.

The Niners probably would love to have him on their practice squad for a year, but if he plays well during the preseason, they might have to give him a spot on the 53-man roster.

Because if he plays well and the Niners don’t give him a roster spot, another team probably will.

Veteran Safety Craig Dahl Facing Uphill Battle to Make Final Roster

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For the past two seasons, veteran Craig Dahl was the 49ers' No. 3 safety, the first safety off the bench. If one of the starters got injured, Dahl replaced him.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, “Dahl will likely have to win the job as the No. 3 safety once again to be back on the 49ers’ 53-man roster.” And it seems unlikely he’ll win that job. He’s a lousy safety—all he has going for him is experience and his ability to play special teams.

The Niners spent their second-round draft pick this year on former Samford safety Jaquiski Tartt. Clearly, the idea is for Tartt to be the No. 3 safety in 2015—the Niners probably wouldn’t have spent a second-round pick on a fourth-string safety.

If Tartt shows he’s up to the task, the Niners probably will cut Dahl.

49ers Excited About Veteran Cornerback Shareece Wright

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Veteran cornerback Shareece Wright missed OTAs and minicamp with an undisclosed injury. The Niners don’t seem concerned.

“The 49ers see similarities between Shareece Wright and Carlos Rogers, who signed a one-year deal in 2011 and was Pro Bowl starter that season,” tweeted Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com on July 4.

Before Rogers signed with the Niners, he had intercepted just eight passes in six seasons with the Washington Redskins. He had terrible hands. But he picked off six passes his first season with the Niners.

Wright has intercepted only one pass during his four-season career in the NFL. He also intercepted just one pass in 35 games at USC. If my math is correct, Wright made two picks since high school.

Maybe that’s a fluke. Maybe Wright will pick off six passes in 2015 like Rogers did in 2011.

Don't count on it, though.

49ers Interested in Clemson Offensive Tackle Isaiah Battle?

RICHARD SHIRO/Associated Press

Former Clemson star Isaiah Battle, CBSSports.com’s fifth-highest-rated offensive tackle for the 2016 draft, has entered this year’s supplemental draft.

Battle had a workout at Clemson on July 7, and according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, “(The 49ers) were one of the teams that attended.”

As they should have. The Niners need a right tackle to replace Anthony Davis, who retired on June 5—about a month after the draft. If he had retired before the draft, the Niners could have spent a high draft pick on a tackle, someone who could start right away.

If the Niners take Battle in the supplemental draft, he probably could start right away at right tackle. They should strongly consider drafting him.

49ers Willing to Trade a Tight End

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The 49ers currently have eight tight ends on their 90-man roster.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, “the 49ers believe they have seven TEs on their 90-man roster who will play in the NFL this season.”

That means the Niners probably believe they can trade one or two or three of their tight ends instead of simply cutting each one who doesn’t make the final roster.

The most obvious trade candidate is third-year tight end Vance McDonald. The Niners spent a second-round pick on him in 2013. Since then, he has made just 11 catches. So the Niners drafted two tight ends this year—Blake Bell in Round 4 and Busta Anderson in Round 7.

During team drills in OTAs and minicamp, Bell seemed like a better receiver than McDonald. Bell certainly caught more passes when the media was present. If Bell continues to outperform McDonald during training camp and the preseason, the Niners probably will trade McDonald.

All practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow @grantcohn.