San Francisco 49ers: 5 Under-the-radar players to watch

A number of players will be under the microscope as the 49ers prepare for the new season, but here we look at five under-the radar players worth watching.

There will be no shortage of storylines to watch as the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the 2018 season.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s strides as he learns Kyle Shanahan’s playbook in its entirety will be under the microscope, as will the play of high-priced free-agent additions Jerick McKinnon and Weston Richburg and first-round tackle Mike McGlinchey.

Richard Sherman’s prospective return from Achilles surgery also figures to attract a lot of attention, but there are several players who are unlikely to garner too many headlines in training camp who are worthy of attention.

Here we look at five under-the-radar players who are deserving of focus in camp and the preseason.

Pita Taumoepenu

As a sixth-round pick who appeared in just two games his rookie year, on the surface Pita Taumoepenu would seem to be more of a cut candidate than somebody who could make an impact in his second year. But you can chalk 2017 up as something of a redshirt year for the former Utah pass rusher, who appears to be a player the 49ers believe they can get production from.

Taumoepenu came into the league undersized for edge work at 6-1 and 243 pounds, but has added 10 pounds to his frame and, as defensive coordinator Robert Saleh recently confirmed, per Niners Nation, is competing for reps at both SAM linebacker and LEO defensive end.

Having recorded a 3-cone time in the 94th percentile for defensive linemen and a 40-yard dash in the 92nd percentile in his pre-draft process, Taumoepenu definitely has the athletic profile to succeed off the edge.

And, with two of the 49ers’ more experienced edge players, Eli Harold and Jeremiah Attaochu, both free agents in 2019, Taumoepenu has the opportunity to prove he is the long-term answer at a crucial position for the Niners.