Revisiting 49ers Roster Battles
After OTAs and minicamp, young players are emerging to provide a clearer picture of who makes the 49ers roster. The depth of the team will be proven by who gets picked up after roster cuts. The number indicates the active roster slots at the position to begin last season.
QB (3)
Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, Sam Darnold
Lance’s improvement has been a focal point. The questions with Purdy are can he get in game shape and reach full health by Week 1, and what improvement he’ll show after eight games in the system.
RB (5)
Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Kyle Juszczyk, Khalan Laborn
Bubble: Ty Davis-Price
McCaffrey for a full season will take the 49er offense to new heights in efficiency. Mitchell held out of practice due to injury is concerning. His talent is undeniable, but so is his fragility, which makes the final RB slot more important as that player can see time. I believe Laborn is the more talented back over TDP.
WR (5)
Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, Ronnie Bell
Bubble: Danny Gray, Tay Martin, Jahcour Pearson.
Gray finally showed something with a breakthrough practice Tuesday but he continues to have problems with body catch drops. He and Bell square off for the final slot, unless the Niners can find another kick returner to replace McCloud. XFL speedster Jahcour Pearson worked out Wednesday. The Niners have the talent to carry six, but probably not the roster room.
TE (3)
George Kittle, Cameron Latu, Brayden Willis
Bubble: Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner
To accommodate needed roster depth elsewhere, tight end probably stays at three slots and the bubble players are cut. Willis and Latu have both shown they can be weapons in the passing game.
OL (9)
Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz, Jon Feliciano, Nick Zakelj, Jason Poe, Matt Pryor
Bubble: Jaylen Moore, Cameron Watson, Jake Fisher, Ilm Manning,
Zakelj was tried at center but is now moving to guard exclusively with Feliciano as the primary backup at both center and guard. Could the Niners drop the offensive line to eight? With talented UDFAs in Fisher and Manning as potential practice squad players, that could give the Niners some active roster flexibility in how many linemen they carry, but nine is likely. Backup tackle is a vulnerable and competitive spot.
DL (9)
Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Drake Jackson, Clelin Ferrell, Kalia Davis, Robert Beal Jr., Kevin Givens, Javon Kinlaw
Bubble: Kerry Hyder, Spencer Waege, T.Y. McGill, Austin Bryant, Daryl Johnson
Johnson was picked by Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks, who had Johnson in Carolina. This is one of the most competitive position battles on the roster, and it may not be done yet as Jackson and Beal are unproven edges. Buffalo just signed Leonard Floyd, so the free agent options are dwindling. Yannick Ngaouke remains unsigned. Hyder made an impressive pick in camp on Wednesday. UDFA Spencer Waege has also looked good.
LB (6)
Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jaylen Graham, Dee Winters
Bubble: Demetrius Flanagan-Fowles
While the Niners carried six last year, they had a linebacker coach as defensive coordinator in DeMeco Ryans. With the switch to Steve Wilks, could a slot be taken from the linebackers and added to the secondary? Burks is a special teams ace and showing well in camp. Graham and Winters are promising rookies, the competition will be tight. The Niners have stashed depth on the practice squad due to their unique physical profile at linebacker. But now with Ryans in Houston, he will keep a close eye on the Niners late cuts.
DB (9)
Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Talanoa Hufanga, Ji'Ayir Brown, Isaiah Oliver, Tashaun Gipson, Darrell Luter Jr., Samuel Womack, George Odum
Bubble: Myles Hartsfield, D'Shawn Jamison, Qwuantrezz Knight
Odum earns his place on the roster as one of the league’s best on special teams. Womack, Hartsfield, and Jamison may be competing for one spot, unless Wilks prefers to add a slot here and possibly subtract at linebacker. Hartsfield was hand-picked by Wilks. Womack has impressed in camp and Jamison played well on Wednesday.
Special Teams (3)
Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper.
Moody is kicking moon shots in practice, but missing a few wide, he’ll need to talk to his mentor Robbie Gould on refining accuracy. Moody hit a field goal from 63 yards with room to spare on Wednesday. Justin Tucker's NFL record is 66 yards.
A roster competing for a Super Bowl is bound to have highly competitive position battles. That’s true of each defensive position, speaking to the Niners talent on that side of the ball.
