11 Niners' players Denver could target coming out of joint-practice sessions

Joint practices are a wonderful thing in the NFL, even if they're just for a few days. The players get to be tested by opponents they aren’t facing every day, and by a scheme they aren’t seeing every day.

It can do great things for the development of players, working out the kinks in the scheme. There is another benefit that always goes unmentioned when talking about joint practices. Front office personnel guys and coaches get to see players on another team up close, and may unearth a gem they could use on their roster at some point on down the road.

Almost every year, there seem to be multiple cases of teams going and getting a player from a team they held joint practices with. These teams either go and trade for them, or wait for the player to get cut/waived.

It allows the team to see a player up close and evaluate whether he would be an upgrade over someone else on the current roster. With the San Francisco 49ers holding joint-practice sessions with the Broncos on Friday and Saturday, I'm sure GM John Elway and company were keeping an eye on some the opposing players they could potentially pick up later.

This group of players may feature some that won’t be cut from the team, but that doesn't mean they couldn't be trade targets. Elway and Niners' GM John Lynch have a front-office chemistry and a history replete with trades and deals.

Some players don’t seem like good bets to make the team, but not because of ability but rather due to the numbers game of the 53-man roster. I spent time going over all the Niners' news, updates and all that buzz to identify which players Denver could be monitoring, even if it's only to file away for future reference.

WRs: Richie James, Kendrick Bourne & Marquise Goodwin

Goodwin may be a shocker, and before you shrug it off, keep reading. The Niners are deep at receiver. Word is, they love what Bourne and James have shown, plus they have Trent Tayor, Deebo Samuel, Dante Pettis, Jalen Hurd and Jordan Matthews on the depth chart.

You can count on the first four making the roster, which leaves four players vying for two spots, provided San Fran keeps the usual six receivers. You can rule Matthews out as well, as he hasn’t looked as good as the rest.

Who does that leave? Goodwin, James and Bourne. Bourne is a favorite among the coaches, and he has looked great this preseason, and James has not been far behind him either. Still, Goodwin is a big-play threat, and the Niners would eat a decent dead cap number if they cut him.

That is why these three make this list. Any of the three could upgrade the Broncos' top-six receivers, so let's get into the receivers as individuals.

Bourne: He has good size and strong hands. He fits in nicely as a possession receiver that can be relied on to make the catch. He would upgrade over the rotation the Broncos currently have behind their top-five, but doesn’t bring the speed they need to find.

James: He has good long speed, and is still developing into being a consistent receiver. He is a bit smaller, but has the shiftiness to make up for it. His long speed could fill what Denver needs from the position, and a possible return man, which they're missing.

Goodwin: He undoubtedly has good speed to be a deep threat, but he has had issues with consistency and staying on the field. He is a bit expensive, which is why if the Niners can find a trade partner, they could potentially move him for a cheaper and younger receiver corps.

In the end, I think San Francisco surprises and keeps seven receivers on their roster, but if they don’t, Denver could and probably should be all over whoever they let go.

Levine Toilolo, TE

The Niners have George Kittle, drafted Kaden Smith and have a surprise in Ross Dwelley. At this point, those three look like the guys on the roster, and that seems to be all. The Niners brought in Toilolo to help, but the depth is making him expendable.

Toilolo is reliable on the field in a reserve No. 3 or 4 TE role, which the Broncos could be looking for. Jake Butt is currently their TE4, but he has struggled to stay healthy and Troy Fumagalli and Jeff Heuerman have also gotten banged up this preseason.

OL: Joshua Garnett, Willie Beavers & Ross Reynolds

Garnett isn’t the best fit for the scheme, which is why the talk out of San Francisco is him getting let go. Beavers has had his moments, and at the very least looked better than the majority of the Broncos' backup tackles.

Then there's the rookie Ross Reynolds, who's a good scheme fit and could provide the answer to the backup center job, provided he could snap the ball well enough. Outside of a few backup linemen, the Broncos' backups have been bad and they should leave no stone unturned as they try to find help there. Jake Rodgers, John Leglue and Elijah Wilkinson are the only exceptions.

DL: Solomon Thomas & Ronald Blair

Denver has a deep defensive line as it is, but Blair could be an option for the practice squad with his upside. As for Thomas, he is a former top-5 pick and if Denver thinks they can turn him around it is worth the shot. I don’t think Thomas would be made available, and I don’t think Denver would be much interested in him is he was.

Malcolm Smith, LB

The word on the street is with the addition of Kwon Alexander and Dre Greenlaw looking great in practice, that Smith is expendable. Denver has plenty of concerns about their linebackers and Smith would be a huge upgrade over the depth the Broncos already have in place. I would not be surprised if Denver was interested, but it would come down to cost.

Jimmie Ward, DB

A few years ago, Ward was looking like he would take the NFL by storm with his play, but he has struggled to stay on the field and his impact has taken a step back. I doubt Denver would have much interest here, especially with Will Parks and Su’a Cravens looking as good as they have.

Still, if John Elway feels that he can make the secondary better, he'll target him. At the very least, he may be an upgrade over Horace Richardson or Trey Marshall, who seem to be battling for the 10th defensive back spot.

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.

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