Bruce Ellington selected by San Francisco 49ers

Bruce Ellington (23) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. South Carolina won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

I’m surprised Bruce Ellington wasn’t selected on the second day of the draft in the third round, because he has the kind of skill-set that should make him a very valuable player in the NFL. He will certainly hold a great deal of value to the San Francisco 49ers, who selected the South Carolina Gamecocks product with the sixth pick in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Ellington is a playmaker who can do some major damage in the slot, and the 49ers could use a guy like him doing damage in the middle of the field. Blessed with high-end short-area quickness, Ellington also has solid hands, runs clean routes, can cut on a dime, and he has enough speed to stretch the field deep through the seam if needed.

At this point, though, Ellington is one to watch for the future, as he qualifies as another “stash” for the 49ers. Like Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton last year, Ellington probably won’t receive much action as a rookie due to a logjam at the wide receiver position. The 49ers now have one of the best WR groups in the league with Stevie Johnson, Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Patton, and Ellington, and they also have tight ends Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald. Armed with a strong group of running backs that now includes Carlos Hyde, Colin Kaepernick can have no complaints about the amazing wealth of talent at the skill positions around him.