Will the 49ers Cut Cameron Latu?

Or do the 49ers suddenly believe in Latu after shutting him down last season?

Cameron Latu might never play a down for the 49ers.

They drafted him in Round 3 last year -- at least a couple rounds higher than most draft experts expected -- and he was truly awful in training camp. He was so bad, he would have gotten released before the season started had he not injured his knee and spent his entire rookie year on the Injured Reserve list. A loophole kept him on the team.

This year, Latu actually has to make the 53-man roster to stick around. And he has a shot. The 49ers let two veteran tight ends leave in free agency -- Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley -- and signed only Eric Saubert to replace them. Saubert is a journeyman who's almost 30. He probably won't make the 53-man roster. So Latu has an opportunity to not only make the team, but to be George Kittle's backup and the primary blocking tight end.

Do the 49ers suddenly believe in Latu after shutting down last season?

I highly doubt it.

The 49ers currently have no choice but to act like they believe in Latu, because they tried to sign Lions backup tight end Brock Wright, who was a restricted free agent, and the Lions matched the 49ers' offer sheet. So then the 49ers signed Plan B, which is Saubert, who probably won't make the team.

Had they acquired Plan A, which was Wright, they would have had their primary blocking tight end. So they're actively trying to replace Latu.

Expect the 49ers to draft another tight end in the next few weeks.