The San Francisco 49ers held their first of two rookie minicamp practices Friday with the second coming on Saturday. Friday's 1:00 p.m. practice was open to the media (Saturday's is not). It was the debut for the 49ers' 2018 draft class, who got to put on their NFL jerseys and helmets for the first time.
Also participating were 33 tryout players as well as some players with one year of NFL experience like quarterback Nick Mullens and offensive lineman Andrew Lauderdale.
You can watch a short clip of first-round draft pick Mike McGlinchey's practice debut below, courtesy of Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group.
#49ers rookie camp report: here is @mmcglinch68 debuting pic.twitter.com/s1HxUfii9K
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) May 4, 2018
The next video shows tryout fullback Connor Wentz, who is the cousin of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, making a one-handed catch.
Watch: Nice 1-hand catch by Connor Wentz, cousin of #FlyEaglesFly QB Carson Wentz, in tryout at #49ers rookie camp. Could be option as backup fullback. Wore his @NDSUfootball yellow gloves pic.twitter.com/G0DJubetPF
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) May 4, 2018
Practice Notes
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that wide receiver Richie James, who the 49ers selected in the seventh round, stood out among the rookies. He caught three passes during 7-on-7 drills and another during 11-on-11 drills. Maiocco also reports that McGlinchey had a nice first practice after a rough start during 1-on-1 pass rushing drills against tryout defensive end Patrick Choudja.
"At one point early in practice, a defender ripped his helmet off at the top of his route," wrote Chris Biderman of Niners Wire, "but James continued his rep and made the catch on an in-cutting pattern, where he figures to get plenty of work as one of the team's many slot receivers."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that defensive back Tarvarius Moore, who is converting from safety to cornerback, was more of an observer during Friday's practice.
Biderman says linebacker Fred Warner got reps at both inside linebacker positions.
At 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds, Warner isn't the prototypical inside linebacker. Inman believes he looks more like a player that belongs on the outside.
"This is a passing league now," Warner said via Bay Area News Group. "Teams are passing the ball about 65 percent of the time, and you need linebackers who can move and cover, and that's why I feel I fit perfect in what we're doing."
Inman felt second-round draft pick Dante Pettis looked "superb" during the practice session.
With rookies Pettis and D.J. Reed, the 49ers have last year's top two returners in college football on their roster. The latter confirmed Friday that he would play both slot cornerback and free safety during the 49ers' offseason program. He got reps at free safety and as a punt returner during Friday's practice.
As for Pettis, he is hoping to showcase his receiving skills.
"I kind of view myself as a receiver and not really a punt returner," Pettis said via Bay Area News Group. "Everything I aim for is receiver-wise and not really punt returner."
Cornerback Tarvarus McFadden was one of the most significant undrafted free agent signings by the 49ers. The Florida State product had his options of NFL teams (the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers were among those interested), but the presence of Richard Sherman convinced him to sign a reported $90,000 deal with San Francisco. The 49ers were also the only team that hosted him on a pre-draft visit, which also helped in the decision process.
"McFadden was by far the most aggressive cornerback in bump-and-run coverage," writes Grant Cohn of the Press Democrat. "On one play, he jammed wide receiver Javon Williams five yards into the backfield. McFadden was the starting left cornerback for the first-team defense during team drills."
Check out the following video courtesy of the Mercury News of today's practice and interviews.
