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5 Things to Watch at 49ers Rookie Minicamp

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed their 10 draft picks, each to four-year deals.

The newest members of the San Francisco 49ers are ready for this weekend's rookie minicamp, set to take place Saturday through Monday.

In addition to the 49ers 10 draft picks and nine undrafted free agent signings, other second-year players who didn't receive playing time in 2014 will be eligible to participate. Rookie free-agent running back Jarryd Hayne will partake as well.

The 49ers signed nine of their 10 draft picks on Monday as Arik Armstead was the last to arrive due to the University of Oregon's quarter-system academic schedule. Armstead signed his deal Friday meaning the team has now agreed to terms with all of its 2015 selections.

The rules associated with the quarter-system allow Armstead to partake in the rookie minicamp but nothing else until he's through with final exams in June.

San Francisco will also invite other free agents to camp on a tryout basis.

Here are five things to look forward to this weekend.

1. Eli Harold's Transition to a New Position

Eli Harold isn't a natural 3-4 linebacker. At Virginia, Harold most commonly lined up in a three-point stance as a pass-rushing defensive end. His job description will still include plenty of getting after the quarterback, but Harold will also be asked to cover running backs and tight ends.

"I just feel like it's the best situation for me not having played linebacker at the college level and having my hand down a lot," said Harold after being drafted. "I really think I can cover but I didn't have that responsibility when I was in college."

Harold was very productive over the past two seasons, accumulating 29.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. The 49ers will expect to get the same level of disruption out of their fourth-round pick.

With the 79th pick in the NFL Draft, the 49ers selected OLB Eli Harold out of Virginia

2. Blake Bell's Continued Development as a Tight End

Like Harold, Blake Bell isn't a natural tight end. The former Oklahoma Sooner played quarterback for three seasons before transitioning to a pass-catcher. As a senior in 2014, Bell caught 16 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns in just his first season as a tight end.

That drastic of a position change is never seamless, but Bell said he's come a long way in just one year.

"I'm feeling really comfortable. It's becoming a lot easier, it's just repetition," Bell said after being selected in the fourth round. "It was my decision and ever since I made the switch, I haven't looked back."

Bell is a gifted athlete and at 6-foot-6 he has plenty of size to be an NFL tight end. As a former signal caller, Bell understands everyone's role within an offense so there isn't much of a learning curve beyond route-running and catching passes. Those are both things sure to improve in Bell's second season playing tight end. It also wouldn't be surprising to see Bell add to his 252-pound frame at the NFL level.

"I want to get bigger for sure," Bell said during Friday's media availability. "I don't think I'm anywhere near where I want to be right now. Just this week and lifting over there with the strength and conditioning staff, I know they're going to get us right."

With the 117th in the NFL Draft, the 49ers selected TE Blake Bell out of Oklahoma

3. Undrafted Wide Receivers

The competition may be the thickest at the receiver position, where the 49ers signed five undrafted players: Utah's Dres Anderson, Duke's Issac Blakeney, Washington's DiAndre Campbell, Henderson State's Darius Davis and Alabama's DeAndrew White.

That makes 12 wideouts when you include the seven other receivers already under contract: Anquan Boldin, Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson, DeAndre Smelter and Torrey Smith.

As part of the current 90-man roster, all five undrafted free-agent receivers are slated to be training camp attendees, but an NFL roster can often be a revolving door in the offseason. It wouldn't be surprising to see the 49ers take less than 12 receivers into training camp, which means it's important to showout this weekend.

The San Francisco 49ers signed nine players as undrafted free agents.

4. Gamecock Crew

There will be moments during minicamp where the 49ers offensive lineup will look similar to the 2014 South Carolina offense. Undrafted free agent Dylan Thompson will be under center, fourth-round pick Mike Davis will be lined up behind him at running back and seventh-round selection Busta Anderson will be split wide at tight end.

"It keeps you from getting homesick," Davis said. "Seeing guys like Bruce (Ellington), Busta and Dylan in the locker room and at practice is great."

Anderson might be the most comfortable of the bunch, having the opportunity to catch passes from a quarterback he's used to. He said that Thompson has become one of his best friends during their time together at South Carolina.

"It's kind of unreal to have that many guys that you played with on the same team at the next level," said Anderson. "Dylan is a great guy. He's one of the guys, if I had anything going on outside of football, I would go to him and go to his family. We've built a close relationship over the past four years. To be with him and my other teammates is a blessing."

A look at the San Francisco 49ers complete alphabetical roster in photos.

5. Offensive Line Positions

Sixth-round pick Ian Silberman and seventh-round pick Trenton Brown both shed some light on where they'll be playing this weekend. Silberman said he will be lining up at guard, but didn't specify which side of the line. He said he feels comfortable at either right or left guard.

Brown has been working primarily at right tackle and expects to stay there through minicamp. The best matchup of the weekend might be Brown going against Armstead lined up at defensive tackle.

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