49ers depth chart prediction ahead of Week 1
The 49ers will make their final roster cuts on Tuesday, deciding on the initial 53-man roster they believe is best-placed to propel them to a long-awaited sixth Super Bowl title. But that will not be the end of the work for Kyle Shanahan, who on top of setting his roster and putting together a practice […]
The 49ers will make their final roster cuts on Tuesday, deciding on the initial 53-man roster they believe is best-placed to propel them to a long-awaited sixth Super Bowl title.
But that will not be the end of the work for Kyle Shanahan, who on top of setting his roster and putting together a practice squad, will also have to decide on a depth chart.
Injury designations may change the makeup of the depth chart in the days after the cutdown deadline, but here's my educated guess at how Shanahan will organize his roster ahead of Week 1, with only a couple of starting spots legitimately up for grabs.
Offense
| Position | Starter | Player 2 | Player 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Brock Purdy | Sam Darnold | Brandon Allen |
Running Back | Christian McCaffrey | Elijah Mitchell | Jordan Mason Tyrion Davis-Price |
Fullback | Kyle Juszczyk | ||
Left Receiver | Brandon Aiyuk | Danny Gray | |
Right Receiver | Deebo Samuel | Ronnie Bell | |
Slot Receiver | Jauan Jennings | Ray-Ray McCloud | |
Tight End | George Kittle | Charlie Woerner | Cameron Latu |
Left Tackle | Trent Williams | Jaylon Moore | |
Left Guard | Aaron Banks | Keith Ismael | |
Center | Jake Brendel | Jon Feliciano | |
Right Guard | Spencer Burford | ||
Right Tackle | Colton McKivitz | Matt Pryor |
The offensive depth chart was largely settled by the trade of Trey Lance to the Cowboys.
Cameron Latu may soon lose his place on it if his meniscus injury requires surgery, while both Danny Gray (shoulder) and Ray-Ray McCloud (wrist) could start the season on injury lists and open up spots for players on the practice squad.
Defense
| Position | Starter | Player 2 | Player 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Left Defensive End | Clelin Ferrell | Drake Jackson | |
Left Defensive Tackle | Arik Armstead | Kevin Givens | T.Y. McGill |
Right Defensive Tackle | Javon Hargrave | Javon Kinlaw | |
Right Defensive End | Nick Bosa | Kerry Hyder Jr. | |
Weakside Linebacker | Dre Greenlaw | Dee Winters | |
Middle Linebacker | Fred Warner | Jalen Graham | |
Strongside Linebacker | Oren Burks | ||
Left Cornerback | Charvarius Ward | Ambry Thomas | D’Shawn Jamison |
Strong Safety | Talanoa Hufanga | George Odum | |
Free Safety | Tashaun Gipson | Ji’Ayir Brown | |
Right Cornerback | Deommodore Lenoir | Samuel Womack III | |
Nickel Cornerback | Isaiah Oliver |
Isaiah Oliver may be listed as the nickel starter, but there's every chance Deommodore Lenoir plays more snaps at inside corner, with the former's preseason struggles leading the Niners to experiment with different solutions there. Right now, Lenoir kicking inside on true passing downs and Ambry Thomas taking his outside spot looks most likely, with Oliver seemingly set to be reduced to playing as a 'big nickel' and guarding tight ends and larger wideouts from the slot.
Up front, the 49ers are hopeful Drake Jackson will take a year-two leap, but injury disrupted his involvement in training camp and preseason, giving Clelin Ferrell an opportunity to claim a starting role that he most definitely grasped. Still, those two will likely frequently rotate at the defensive end spot across from Nick Bosa.
Ferrell and Jackson may both line up as starters if the 49ers fail to get Bosa signed to a contract extension by Week 1.
At linebacker, the 49ers hope they can get Oren Burks back from a knee injury in time for the opener. If not, rookie Jalen Graham would be the favorite to start at SAM linebacker against the Steelers.
Special Teams
| Postion | Starter |
|---|---|
Kicker | Jake Moody |
Punter | Mitch Wishnowsky |
Long Snapper | Taybor Pepper |
Just one question here, and it's a big one. Will Jake Moody be recovered from a quad injury in time for Week 1? The 49ers will need to sign another kicker to the roster if the answer is no.
Predicting the 49ers practice squad for 2023
The 49ers may go receiver heavy on their practice squad this year.
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