Grant Cohn: 5 under-the-radar 49ers who could have big impact

Most over-reported player of 2015: Jarryd Hayne.

This time last year, you were reading three articles a week about the former Rugby League Player. How he was an amazing athlete who picked up a new sport at 28 years old. How he had become the best punt returner on the team right away. How could play running back too and catch passes out of the backfield.

Turns out, all you needed to know about Hayne was he's a fumbler. And a quitter who retired from football after just one season. Sorry for wasting your time.

To make it up to you, here are five under-reported players who could make an actual impact on the 49ers in 2016 and beyond. Get to know them.

1. WR Eric Rogers.

Rogers was the first player the 49ers signed after hiring head coach Chip Kelly. You get the feeling Kelly knew about Rogers and pointed the Niners in his direction.

Rogers (25) is the all-time leading receiver at Cal Lutheran, a Division III school. The Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2013 but cut him before the season started.

Rogers eventually signed with the Portland Steel of the Arena Football League, and in 2014 made 73 catches for 903 yards and 27 touchdowns in just nine games. In 2015, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and made 87 catches for 1,448 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Now, he's getting a chance to play in the NFL. He's competing with Quinton Patton to be the Niners' No.2 receiver opposite Torrey Smith, and Rogers seems to be dominating the competition.

During the two practices which were open to the media, Patton caught zero passes and Rogers caught 12. None of the Niners' cornerbacks could cover Rogers. I think he's going to be beat out Patton, a former fourth-round pick who has no standout characteristic. Rogers has several. He's a good route-runner, he's tall (6-3), he has very long arms and he jumps high.

2. WR Bryce Treggs.

Coming out of high school in 2012, Treggs was the 12th-best wide receiver in the country, according to Rivals.com. Chip Kelly recruited Treggs to play at Oregon but Treggs chose to play at Cal instead. He and Kelly have history.

Treggs is 5-11 and he runs a 4.38 40-yard dash. Same height and speed as Ted Ginn Jr. Like Ginn, Treggs is a dangerous deep threat. He averaged 21.2 yards per catch last season.

The Niners recently signed Treggs as an undrafted free agent. He's competing with DeAndrew White, an undrafted rookie from 2015, to back up Bruce Ellington in the slot.

Given Kelly's familiarity with the former Cal receiver, Treggs could beat out White for a roster spot. And given Ellington's pattern of pulling muscles, Treggs could become the Niners' starting slot receiver by midseason.

3. CB Chris Davis.

New Niners defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil is moving former first-round pick Jimmie Ward from nickel back to cornerback. Which means the Niners need a new nickel back to cover the other team's slot receiver.

Third-round pick Will Redmond is supposed to be the team's new nickel back, but Redmond tore his ACL on October 22 and hasn't participated in any OTAs. He seems likely to “red-shirt” his rookie season.

While Redmond rehabs and Ward learns his new position, Chris Davis seems to be the starting nickel back. He certainly was the starter the second day the media was watching. He also returned punts and kicks.

Davis played college ball at Auburn and was an All-American as a senior in 2013. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and played in 12 games before the Chargers released him, then played in three more games after signing with the 49ers. Impressive for an undrafted rookie.

The new coaching staff seems to like him.

4. FS Marcus Cromartie.

In addition to playing nickel corner last season, Jimmie Ward was the backup free safety. Now, the the Niners need a new backup free safety now that Ward is a fulltime starting corner.

During OTAs, Marcus Cromartie has been the backup free safety. Cromartie is a former undrafted free agent who played under 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil in 2014 when O'Neil was coaching the Cleveland Browns' defense.

Last season, Cromartie played with the 49ers and appeared in eight games as a cornerback. Now, the new coaching staff is moving him to free safety - a smart move. Cromartie isn't particularly skilled in man-to-man coverage, but he's fast (4.41) and covers a lot of ground in centerfield.

5. C Alex Balducci.

Balducci is an undrafted rookie free agent who played defensive tackle at Oregon. He has a legitimate chance to make the 49ers as a center.

The Niners need a center who can back up starter Daniel Kilgore. Marcus Martin, a former third-round pick, was the backup the last two seasons, and he was dreadful. Probably the worst the offensive lineman in the NFL. Defensive linemen just threw Martin around like he was their little brother.

Balducci is stronger than Martin right now. If Balducci can learn to play center before the regular season starts - he looks good so far - he'll take Martin's spot on the final roster.

Grant Cohn writes sports columns and the “Inside the 49ers” blog for The Press Democrat's website. You can reach him at grantcohn@gmail.com.