San Francisco 49ers

NFL Roster Cuts: 5 Best Moves the 49ers Made in Creating 53-Man Roster

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers may have let some talented players go when NFL teams were forced to make roster cuts over the weekend. But the Niners also ensured some talent would stick around to start the 2016 regular season. Here are the five best moves the Niners made.

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (54) runs out with teammates prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, Niner Noise took a look at the five worst moves the San Francisco 49ers made in assembling their 53-man roster for the start of the 2016 NFL season.

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It’s easy to be critical of a team coming off a 5-11 season and generally predicted to do much of nothing this year.

But let’s flip the script on general manager Trent Baalke’s decision-making process and look at the five best moves he made while assembling the regular-season group of players we’ll see in Week 1.

San Francisco’s 53-man roster did lose a good deal of talent due to these cuts. Such is the nature of the league. Guys like quarterback Jeff Driskel, nose tackle Garrison Smith and wide receivers Devon Cajuste and Bryce Treggs didn’t make it onto the practice squad and were claimed by other teams.

And yet the 49ers did manage to make room for some key figures this season.

Let’s focus on those, shall we?

Aug 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (13) during training camp at Kezar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: Retaining Wide Receiver Aaron Burbridge

Rookie wide receiver Aaron Burbridge was able to stick around on the 49ers’ 53-man roster.

San Francisco’s sixth-round pick from the 2016 NFL Draft isn’t someone with blazing speed — a necessity in head coach Chip Kelly’s offense. But he does have tremendous hands, which he displayed while catching passes from quarterback Connor Cook at Michigan State.

Burbridge’s wide catch radius and ability to bail out his quarterback is a good attribute to have, especially considering some of the preseason accuracy woes suffered by 49ers QBs Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick.

As it turned out, Burbridge won this competition between he and the rest of San Francisco’s young receivers.

The only young receiver the #49ers kept was draft pick Aaron Burbridge. They cut DeAndrew White, Anderson, Cajuste, Whalen.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 3, 2016

Keep this in mind — Burbridge didn’t exactly wow in the preseason, but he quietly put together a five-catch, 36-yard performance.

At least the opportunity opens up for Burbridge to develop his abilities and make an impact at the next level.

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood (11) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Davis (43) during the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Retaining Cornerback Chris Davis

Another winner of a heated 49ers camp battle is cornerback Chris Davis.

During training camp, Davis was amid a competition for the nickel corner role along with rookie Will Redmond and third-year pro Keith Reaser.

This competition was wide open, as defensive back Jimmie Ward is now moved to the outside.

The 25-year-old Davis probably wasn’t seen as a favorite. San Francisco has a history of using rookies in nickel roles — former CB Chris Culliver and Ward — so Redmond had to be seen as the favorite here.

But Redmond is still recovering from an ACL injury and didn’t look 100 percent in the preseason.

Davis looked just fine, albeit he struggled against the Green Bay Packers.

#49ers CB Chris Davis said he over-ran the play on Cobb TD while taking poor angle vs. Packers. Takes it as learning experience.

— Ryan Sakamoto (@SakamotoRyan) August 28, 2016

The positives outweighed the negatives though, and the 49ers have a much better an option in the slot instead of Redmond.

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (54) prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Retaining Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong

In all fairness, Ray-Ray Armstrong won out the competition to start at inside linebacker alongside NaVorro Bowman.

San Francisco ended up keeping all three of the players vying for this role. The other two being Michael Wilhoite and Gerald Hodges.

Hodges may be a better option against the run. And Wilhoite is the lone linebacker out of this group who can play both the WILL and MIKE. But Armstrong’s coverage abilities made him a standout during the preseason.

True, Armstrong had some bone-headed moments, including a penalty which resulted in a suspension after Week 3 of the preseason.

But fans also saw him converge well in coverage. That’s going to be the element San Francisco’s defense will need out of its linebacker crop this year. Just remember how often opponents targeted 49ers LBs in coverage last season.

Armstrong should help alleviate that.

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargersrunning back Gus Johnson (33) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ronald Blair (98) during the second half of the game at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: Retaining Defensive End Ronald Blair

The 49ers had only so many spots along their defensive line, and rookie defensive end Ronald Blair was one to make the cut.

And for all the right reasons.

As a situational pass-rusher, Blair is a tremendous force with a ton of upside. Just take a look at what Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney had to say about him:

Ronald Blair is a prime example of a guy who produced in college producing in the NFL. He graded out very high on our site last year. #49ers

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) September 2, 2016

Keeping Blair likely pushed out nose tackle Garrison Smith, who ended up being claimed by the Seattle Seahawks. And the move also negated a need for San Francisco to keep linebacker Marcus Rush, who landed on the practice squad, on the 53-man roster as well.

To think this — Rush led the NFL with six preseason sacks. And the Niners feel better about Blair’s abilities.

Let’s hope those translate over into the regular season.

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts from the sidelines during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Retaining Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

So this one might be a bit controversial, but let’s go ahead and say keeping quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the roster was a good move.

The reason may not exactly be what you think either.

OK, so Kap’s ongoing protests — regardless how you view them — are going to be a distraction to a 49ers team which doesn’t need them. And it’s more than safe to say Kaepernick’s play is nothing like it was back in 2012 and 2013.

To think, Kap was on the verge of being released if he didn’t have a “prove it” game.

While his numbers against the San Diego Chargers weren’t stellar, they were enough to keep the 28-year-old former star around for a little while longer.

Kaepernick’s future with the 49ers may not be safe. At least not in the long run. But what the move does do is put a little more pressure on incumbent No. 1 starter Blaine Gabbert.

So why is this important?

San Francisco faces the Los Angeles Rams, the Carolina Panthers, the Seattle Seahawks, the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 1 through 5, respectively. These matchups feature three playoff teams from a year ago and three NFC West rivalry games.