Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area held a live chat today to address questions from fans. Outside of spending a lot of time surveying his viewers' opinions on a San Francisco Giants helmet that he was planning to wear to a game tonight (just wear it Matt – you know that you want to), he did touch on some 49ers topics.
One topic was his opinion on the team's thinnest position. He stated that it was at wide receiver. "You don't know, other than Torrey Smith, who's going to be the starters there," Maiocco stated.
Maiocco also pointed out Jerome Simpson as a guy to keep an eye on. "He looks good on the practice field. He always has. It's just the production during games has been down. Last year, he didn't really produce much at all," said Maiocco. "Other than Torrey Smith, he has the best NFL resume."
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While Simpson had only five receptions last season for 54 yards and a touchdown, he has produced in the past. In 2011, he had 50 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns with the Cincinnati Bengals, his best NFL season so far.
When asked about free agent Eric Rogers, Maiocco stated, "Looks pretty good. Looks the part. He has a chance to be a player."
Rogers was Chip Kelly's first acquisition following his hiring as head coach. Nearly half of the league was looking to sign the former CFL receiver. Kelly reportedly called Rogers within hours of learning that he would become the 49ers' new coach. "He basically told me, 'I guess I had to come to Cali to sign you since you're a Cali boy,'" said Rogers.
Last year, Rogers caught 87 passes for 1,448 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Calgary Stampeders.
When asked who he thought the team's top three wide receivers were, Maiocco listed Smith, Quinton Patton, and Simpson.
Maiocco also added DeAndre Smelter, a fourth-round selection out of Georgia Tech in 2015 who was recovering from an ACL injury, to the list of guys that could be in the mix at wide receiver. Smelter, who has 11-inch hands and the largest of his draft class, has been compared to WR Anquan Boldin. The 49ers did not re-sign Boldin and he remains a free agent.