3 Under-the-radar 49ers players who are facing significant pressure heading into training camp
The San Francisco 49ers will open training camp in just over three weeks' time. It is an exciting moment in the NFL calendar, one that sees the build-up to the new season intensify. But it's also one that brings significant pressure for players who are fighting to keep their jobs or carve out bigger roles […]
The San Francisco 49ers will open training camp in just over three weeks' time.
It is an exciting moment in the NFL calendar, one that sees the build-up to the new season intensify.
But it's also one that brings significant pressure for players who are fighting to keep their jobs or carve out bigger roles on the team.
There are several prominent players under pressure on both sides of the ball for the Niners, but here I've looked a little further down the depth chart and identified some under-the-radar players who need to excel once they report to the facility to get their 2024 campaigns going.
OT Jaylon Moore
Moore was the 49ers' swing tackle last season and produced some admirable play in defeat in Weeks 7 and 8 while left tackle Trent Williams was out injured. Though he was not the reason the Niners lost either of those games to the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals respectively, Moore's roster spot is far from secure.
The 49ers signed two tackles in free agency, Brandon Parker and Chris Hubbard, with the latter's deal featuring $300,000 in guaranteed money this year. Predominantly a right tackle, Hubbard also has enough experience at left to be the swing tackle.
While releasing Moore would carry a dead cap charge of $80,759, the cap savings of $1,055,000 would be slightly more than if they moved on from Parker ($1,010,000). On top of that, the 49ers drafted two guards with tackle experience in Dominick Puni and Jarrett Kingston.
As such, if Moore doesn't impress in camp, the 49ers would have ample motivation to move on from him a year early. For the 26-year-old, his final training camp before free agency is a huge one.
DT Kalia Davis
Davis redshirted his first year after suffering a torn ACL in his final college season and did not make his Niners debut until Week 13 of the regular season, recording a sack and a quarterback hit in a blowout win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Yet Davis played in just two further games before an injury to his ankle kept him out for the rest of the 49ers' run to Super Bowl 58.
Still, after showing some encouraging flashes last season, he potentially has an opportunity to make strides in 2024, especially on an interior defensive line that does not have a great deal of depth behind starters Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins.
Yet there is no guarantee Davis will even be on the 49ers' roster come September. He has no guaranteed money on his deal, and the Niners signed an undrafted free agent in Evan Anderson, whom they believe can help fill the run-stuffing void D.J. Jones left in 2022, to a deal with $280,000 guaranteed money.
Davis doesn't have enough on-field experience to be a sure-fire better option than Anderson and there is no financial incentive for the 49ers to keep him ahead of the rookie. He needs to prove himself in a hurry across training camp and preseason.
S George Odum
Odum is not under pressure of losing his roster spot. He is a critical part of the San Francisco special teams with over $1 million in guaranteed money on his deal this year.
The pressure on his shoulders concerns proving to the 49ers that he can be more trusted to also man the safety position if needed.
San Francisco is hoping Ji'Ayir Brown takes another step forward after an extremely encouraging rookie year while Talanoa Hufanga is aiming to bounce back after suffering a torn ACL in November.
But their safety net behind that duo consists of Odum and fourth-round rookie Malik Mustapha.
The 49ers think highly of Mustapha, but it would be asking a lot for him to be the first option in the event of an injury to Brown or Hufanga.
It would, therefore, be no surprise to see the 49ers dip into the safety market and sign another veteran. However, by shining in camp and preseason, Odum could help convince San Francisco that is a move they do not need to make.
Special teams has long since been Odum's forte, but it would be a huge boost for the 49ers if Odum can demonstrate some reliability as a potential emergency starter on defense.
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