San Francisco 49ers OTAs: Under-the-radar offensive players have a chance to shake up the depth chart
As the San Francisco 49ers begin the next phase of their workout program, there's understandably a lot of focus on an offensive star who won't be at OTAs. Brandon Aiyuk's absence is the main story concerning the Niners as they step up preparations for 2024, but the upcoming practices are more important for those at […]
As the San Francisco 49ers begin the next phase of their workout program, there's understandably a lot of focus on an offensive star who won't be at OTAs.
Brandon Aiyuk's absence is the main story concerning the Niners as they step up preparations for 2024, but the upcoming practices are more important for those at the other end of the roster than they are for the likes of Aiyuk and San Francisco's litany of premier offensive weapons.
Often it is those further down the depth chart who can make a big difference at key moments in the season. Therefore it is worth spending at least some time focusing on under-the-radar players for whom OTAs represent a chance to improve their stock and create opportunities for themselves when the Niners play meaningful football.
Here I've identified three such players who have the potential to shake up the depth chart at three different positions on offense.
RB Cody Schrader
There will be a lot of attention in the coming practices on 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo, selected after the 49ers traded up in the fourth round in a move that will have elicited some eyerolls from Niners fans that have seen previous such trades produce scant returns.
An explosive athlete who crushed the Combine and could thrive in the return game, it's natural that Guerendo will attract more eyeballs, but undrafted free agent Schrader also has a shot to put pressure on more experienced members of the 49ers' running back room after excelling in the SEC in college.
A former walk-on at Missouri, Schrader led the SEC in rushing in 2023 and projects as a strong fit for a 49ers ground game that blends both zone and gap scheme runs. He is decisive with impressive burst to the second level and does an excellent job of consistently picking up yards after contact.
Both Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason can be traded this offseason with little dead cap penalty, and the presence of both Guerendo and Schrader, along with that of free agent acquisition Patrick Taylor Jr, means their roster spots are far from secure.
Behind Christian McCaffrey, the running back depth chart can be considered very much in flux, and Schrader has the potential to muddy the waters further by impressing in OTAs.
TE Brayden Willis
The 49ers drafted two tight ends in 2023, and it's likely that at OTAs the focus will be on the one that didn't play as a rookie, with third-rounder Cameron Latu missing the season with a knee injury and then appearing to come in for criticism from Kyle Shanahan after this year's draft.
But seventh-rounder Brayden Willis might be a stronger bet to stick around long term. He did play a limited amount of snaps as a rookie and, though he did not catch a pass, Willis held up well in the blocking game.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Willis did not have a single blown block across the extremely small sample size of 28 blocking snaps. On top of that, he was the 49ers' fifth-highest graded special teamer, per Pro Football Focus.
In other words, Willis has done enough to have earned at least some faith from the 49ers' coaching staff heading into a season in which the second tight end role behind George Kittle is firmly up for grabs.
In college at Oklahoma, Willis displayed versatility and some intriguing upside as a route-runner along with dependability as a catcher of the ball. If he can demonstrate those traits during the workout program and in training camp, he could win the TE2 battle and potentially solve a longtime issue for the 49ers.
OT Chris Hubbard
Hubbard's recent arrival on a one-year deal understandably didn't generate much in the way of headlines, but the signing of the veteran could prove to be an extremely important move.
He has 10 seasons of experience and can play both tackle spots as well as guard.
But Hubbard has primarily played right tackle across spells with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans. Though his sole season with the latter was prematurely ended by injury, Hubbard was playing at a level to suggest he could push the often maligned Colton McKivitz for the starting right tackle role.
Hubbard ranked 22nd among tackles with at least 100 snaps with a blown pass block rate of 3.2%, per SIS. By stark contrast, McKivitz was 79th with a rate of 6.3%.
McKivitz played a full season, whereas Hubbard's was over after Week 11. Still, that massive difference illustrates the jeopardy McKivitz should feel having Hubbard behind him on the depth chart.
He may be 33 and on a one-year deal but, for a win-now team, Hubbard's reliability in pass blocking compared to McKivitz is appealing. OTAs will give an early impression as to whether the starting role could be up for grabs or, failing that, if Hubbard could secure a place on the roster as a backup who figures to keep McKivitz on his toes for the entire season.
San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk not expected to report for OTAs amid contract impasse
There’s still a lot of work to be done.
