49ers stock watch after the opening week of preseason
Kyle Shanahan didn't enjoy it, and it's hard to believe anybody of a 49ers persuasion enjoyed their preseason opener against the Raiders. But as much as the Niners' 34-7 defeat was difficult to watch, there was plenty to be gleaned from it. Even in a blowout loss, there were positives from the performance of San […]
Kyle Shanahan didn't enjoy it, and it's hard to believe anybody of a 49ers persuasion enjoyed their preseason opener against the Raiders.
But as much as the Niners' 34-7 defeat was difficult to watch, there was plenty to be gleaned from it.
Even in a blowout loss, there were positives from the performance of San Francisco's second, third and fourth-stringers.
On the other hand, there were several players who did little to help themselves or their prospects for the coming season. As the Niners prepare to host the Broncos on Saturday, let's take a look at whose stock went up and whose sank lower after an exhibition to forget.
49ers stock watch after preseason Week 1
Stock Up: Ronnie Bell
With Ray-Ray McCloud potentially out for the first few weeks of the regular season, there is an additional opening for a spot on the wide receiver depth chart to start the campaign.
Despite dropping an accurate Brandon Allen throw that turned into an interception, Bell helped his chances of making the 53 with his debut showing for the Niners.
Bell caught three passes for a team-high 58 yards, displaying – for the most part – strong hands and an encouraging rapport with Sam Darnold.
He isn’t sure of a roster spot by any means. Veteran Chris Conley also stood out with three catches for 47 yards and Tay Martin did his hopes no harm, though he should have come down with a 21-yard catch from Allen.
But Bell looks to be in a strong position now. He would have a tighter grip on a spot had he excelled in the return game with McCloud out, but another rookie looked far more natural in that role.
Stock Up: D’Shawn Jamison
If not for a series of frustrating penalties, the 49ers’ return game would have been a major bright spot for the Niners in Las Vegas, with Jamison thriving in his audition for the job temporarily vacated by McCloud.
Jamison had three returns, including one of 37 yards, called back by penalty, but could hardly have looked more at ease running back kickoffs and punts.
His efforts in that regard served to furnish the resume of a player who has ascended throughout training camp, and the undrafted free agent cornerback will this week get the chance to display another string to his bow.
Jamison, having shone at outside corner in training camp, got the chance to take snaps at nickel during Tuesday’s practice as the 49ers attempt to figure out their best options at a position of ever increasing importance in the modern NFL.
A player who was overlooked for all seven rounds of the draft now potentially has the chance to fill two roles for the Niners in a rookie year. It’s becoming very difficult to dispute the notion that, in Jamison, San Francisco has unearthed a gem.
Stock Down: Nick Zakelj
A sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft, Zakelj has an opportunity to cement himself as a top backup on the interior of the offensive line after a strong preseason last year.
So far, though, he does not look like taking that chance. With the caveat that all of the center help went to right guard Jason Poe during the first half against the Raiders, Zakelj struggled mightily in pass protection from the left guard spot.
Per Pro Football Focus, Zakelj allowed a team-high four pressures, failing to inspire belief he could step up to the starting lineup if needed in the regular season.
By contrast Keith Ismael, who brings center-guard versatility and already has regular-season experience with Washington, did not allow a single pressure in a strong display.
After their markedly different fortunes, it’s fair to wonder whether Ismael could get the chance to test himself in Zakelj’s spot as the second-string left guard in Saturday’s game with the Broncos. Entering his second year in the league, Zakelj’s place on the roster is by no means safe.
Stock Down: Rookie tight ends
The 49ers drafted two tight ends in the hope of developing a backup who could take at least some of the load off of George Kittle.
But neither third-round pick Cameron Latu or seventh-rounder Brayden Willis, who has reportedly impressed in training camp, distinguished themselves.
Willis did not get much of an opportunity to do so until the second half, and he made only one catch for five yards. Latu compounded his problems with drops in practice by fumbling a nine-yard reception to help set up a Raiders touchdown. He was also flagged for a hold on a kick return.
Latu in particular appears a long way from being ready to contribute to the offense. Their rookies outshone by veterans Ross Dwelley and Troy Fumagalli, the 49ers might have to wait patiently for their two young tight ends to alleviate some of the burden on Kittle.
Stock Down: Javon Kinlaw
The subject of so much hype over the course of training camp, there is renewed hope a leaner and healthier Kinlaw can finally be an impact player on the interior defensive line in this the last year of his rookie contract.
Those hopes were subverted somewhat by Kinlaw’s performance against the Raiders, which was worryingly reminiscent of his struggles in previous years.
Kinlaw did not affect the game as a pass rusher and he had limited success in keeping his pad level low in the run game. Though he did not struggle as much as fellow defensive tackle Kevin Givens against consistent double teams from the Las Vegas offensive line, Kinlaw did not manage to register a run stop.
The 2020 first-round pick’s display did not reflect the level of praise he has received heading into preseason. Kinlaw will still make the 53, but the opening exhibition was hardly an endorsement of the belief this could be his breakout campaign.
Stock Up: Jalen Graham
The 49ers are hardly short of talent at the linebacker position, and they appear to have stacked the deck further in this year’s draft.
San Francisco spent two late-round selections on linebackers, taking Dee Winters in the sixth round and Jalen Graham in the seventh.
Winters flashed sideline-to-sideline speed when he got on the field, but Graham was the star of the show on defense for San Francisco.
Graham showcased an excellent combination of speed, instincts and physicality that consistently allowed him to shed blocks from linemen at the second level.
Oren Burks is the favorite to be the strongside linebacker for the Niners on base downs, but he is not expected back until Week 1 after suffering a knee injury in joint practices with the Raiders.
That means opportunities for Graham to impress will be plentiful over the coming weeks, and he could be lining up next to Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw if he continues to take them.
Stock Up: Ambry Thomas
Thomas has experience in letting an opportunity slip, having failed to build on a strong finish to rookie season and being reduced to play almost solely on special teams in 2022.
But the third-year corner has bounced back in a big way so far, enjoying a superb offseason and consistently earning plaudits from his coaches in camp.
That acclaim was clearly not just bluster, as Thomas was the best player in the 49er secondary against the Raiders, making a fourth-down stop in the run game and registering a pass breakup on a play that saw him brilliantly undercut a deep route over the middle.
His resurgence has fueled talk of Thomas getting snaps on the outside on nickel downs to allow the 49ers to use Deommodore Lenoir’s versatility and bump the 2021 fifth-round pick to the slot.
Such a prospect would have seem dubious going into training camp, but is a consequence of Thomas’ determination to learn from his mistakes of last year and the struggles of the man the Niners seemingly had pegged for the nickel corner role.
Stock Down: Isaiah Oliver
The 49ers signed Oliver to a two-year contract in free agency with $2.9 million guaranteed, a clear indication of their desire for him to have a significant role.
But Oliver struggled as one of the few anticipated starters out there against the Raiders, surrendering four catches, including one for a touchdown to Keelan Cole Sr.
On that play, Oliver was playing inside leverage but got caught with his eyes in the backfield, allowing Cole to stroll into the endzone on an out-breaking route.
In the aftermath, Kyle Shanahan has clarified that Oliver is not locked in to be the nickel corner, with defensive coordinator Steve Wilks following up that Jamison, Lenoir and A.J. Parker are all the mix to play snaps inside.
“It is just really a rolodex of players, to be quite honest with you. And we did some things today where, we put Jamison inside, we moved Demo back inside a little bit. Certain reps, A.J.’s been doing a great job inside at nickel as well. So, we just really continue to try to find the mix. We love the competition and trying to make sure guys continue to get better.”
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The 49ers must have a solution on the inside having got stellar play from Jimmie Ward at that spot last year. Oliver was thought to be their answer, but that status is very much in doubt. No non-quarterback saw his stock fall lower than the former Falcon last Sunday.
Stock Down: Trey Lance
No preseason performance in the first week of the schedule attracted more scrutiny than that of Lance, whose statline could not mask a hesitant display in which he turned down open throws and should have ended with him throwing at least one interception.
Lance went 10 of 15 for 112 yards and a touchdown that should have been intercepted, but his lack of decisiveness, especially across his opening three series that all ended in a three and out, was jarring to watch.
Simply put, despite showing off his arm talent and playmaking ability as he settled into the game later in the first half, Lance did little to help his odds of being Brock Purdy’s immediate backup in the regular season.
Kyle Shanahan’s offense demands that the quarterback trusts what he is seeing and delivers with confidence. There was little such assuredness from Lance, and his performance has only led to more questions about his future, which in the long term looks likely to be away from San Francisco.
Stock Up: Sam Darnold
While Lance appeared crippled by indecision for much of Sunday’s encounter, Darnold looked comfortable and only too happy to let it rip, almost to his detriment on a throw to the impressive Ronnie Bell that could have been intercepted.
The 2018 third overall pick hit Bell on a 37-yard dime down the right sideline and had no problem completing a deep out to Tay Martin.
Playing behind second and third-stringers on the offensive line, it was a tantalizing appetizer of what he could become if asked to step in and play in the Shanahan offense in the regular season.
At this moment, the battle for the QB2 role behind Brock Purdy is still open but, between Lance’s struggles and the flashes Darnold produced, it appears to have tilted in favor of the latter.
The 49ers will hope to perform to a significantly higher standard against Denver and, after last week's letdown, several position battles have a lot more intrigue surrounding them going into the visit of the Broncos.
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