Predicting San Francisco 49ers' Training Camp Standouts

One player on the San Francisco 49ers’ who may stand out during training camp is rookie undrafted free-agent wide receiver DeAndrew White.

White was the standout receiver during OTAs and minicamp. He was extremely fast and quick, a threat downfield and after the catch. And he didn’t drop a single pass during the six practices in front of the media.

White was so good, he started minicamp with the third-team offense and worked his way up to the first-team offense by Day 3. No other player on the team shot up the depth chart as quickly as White.

If White stays healthy, he’s a dark horse to make the team and become the No. 3 receiver.

Here are five more 49ers who may stand out during training camp.

WR Torrey Smith, Fifth Season

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This offseason the Niners signed one of the best deep-threat wide receivers in the NFL, Torrey Smith, to a five-year $40 million contract. In his career he’s averaging 16.9 yards per catch.

He played the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens and had terrific chemistry with starting quarterback Joe Flacco. Now Smith has to start over and develop chemistry with his new quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.

Starting flanker Anquan Boldin and starting tight end Vernon Davis already have chemistry with Kaepernick. So training camp will be more important for Smith than any other receiver on the 49ers.

I expect Smith and Kaepernick will try to connect deep at least once every day during training camp. They need as many reps as possible to make sure they’re on the same page when the regular season starts.

TE Blake Bell, Rookie

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The 49ers rarely do any full-speed live hitting during training camp, so the players who stand out tend to be the ones who can run and catch.

San Francisco’s rookie tight end Blake Bell—a quarterback until 2014—proved during minicamp and OTAs he can run and catch. He’s a natural receiver. He quickly became backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s favorite target on the second-team offense.

Bell is competing with 2013 second-round pick Vance McDonald to be the Niners’ No. 2 tight end. McDonald has made just 10 catches in his career and is not a natural receiver.

But he’s a terrific blocker. Bell’s blocking is a question mark because he’s new to the position. He’ll have to show he can hold his own as a blocker during the preseason, or else McDonald probably will beat him out for the No. 2 tight end job.

OLB Eli Harold, Rookie

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The Niners’ top three outside linebackers—Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Aaron Lynch—are tall, long-armed pass-rushers who use strength and power to beat offensive tackles.

Niners rookie third-round pick Eli Harold mostly uses speed to beat offensive tackles. He’s unique to the defense, the most explosive pass-rusher on the 49ers. It’s easy to see during pass-rushing drills.

Offensive tackles seem to kick-slide more aggressively when they face Harold because they worried he will blow right by them.

If Harold continues to play well during training camp, defensive coordinator Eric Mangini will have to figure out a way to use him in addition to the other talented outside linebackers.

CB Tramaine Brock, Sixth Season

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Veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock missed 13 games last season due to toe and hamstring injuries, but he played fantastically during training camp. He looked like a shutdown cornerback.

The Niners may be working under the premise that he is a shutdown cornerback.

“There has been talk that he will follow the opponent’s best wide receiver all over the field. He may also follow if that receiver moves inside to the slot position,” wrote Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

In other words, Niners defensive coordinator Eric Mangini may use Brock the way Mangini used All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis when Mangini was the head coach for the New York Jets.

Is Brock up to the challenge? I expect he’ll try to show he is during training camp.

FS Eric Reid, Third Season

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The past four seasons, the best player on the 49ers’ defense could have been Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman or Aldon Smith. Each player was one of the best in the NFL.

But Justin Smith and Willis retired, and Aldon Smith and Bowman are question marks—Bowman’s coming off a torn ACL and MCL, and Aldon Smith was no good last season. He recorded just two sacks in seven games.

Who’s the best player on the 49ers defense now?

The answer may be free safety Eric Reid, the 49ers first-round pick from 2013. Reid made the Pro Bowl that season as a 21-year-old rookie. He was the youngest player there.

Reid doesn’t turn 24 until December. He seems to be in excellent shape and ready to assert himself as the leader of the defense.

All quotations and practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow @grantcohn.