Updated 53-man roster projection for the San Francisco 49ers following offseason workout program
The San Francisco 49ers are back on vacation, with their offseason workout program now in the books. For their 91-man roster, the focus during their time off will be on staying in the shape and, for those new to the team and those likely fighting for a place on the back end of the 53 […]
The San Francisco 49ers are back on vacation, with their offseason workout program now in the books.
For their 91-man roster, the focus during their time off will be on staying in the shape and, for those new to the team and those likely fighting for a place on the back end of the 53 or the practice squad, absorbing themselves in the playbook to put themselves in the best position to excel in training camp.
Training camp is what will essentially determine the final makeup of the roster, but here I've revised my initial 53-man roster projection based on the events of OTAs and minicamp.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (3)
IN: Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen
OUT: Tanner Mordecai**
The Skinny: Purdy's elbow injury in the NFC Championship Game at the end of the 2022 season ensured the 49ers are always likely to keep three quarterbacks on the roster. In Dobbs, the Niners know they have a backup who can win games at short notice and who has experience in similar systems.
Running back (4)
IN: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo*,
OUT: Patrick Taylor, Jordan Mason, Cody Schrader**
The skinny: No changes here from the previous projection. One of Mitchell or Mason will have to make way for Guerendo, who right now seems like a lock after the 49ers traded two fifth-round picks to go up and get him in the fourth.
Wide receiver (6)
IN: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall*, Jacob Cowing*, Ronnie Bell
OUT: Danny Gray, Chris Conley, Tay Martin, Trent Taylor, Terique Owens**
The skinny: There's still a chance Aiyuk could go elsewhere as he remains without a contract extension, but it's unlikely. Jennings signed an extension that ensures he will be on the roster through 2025, though hanging on to the number three spot figures to be a challenge with first-round pick Pearsall already drawing widespread praise.
Tight end (3)
IN: George Kittle, Logan Thomas, Eric Saubert
OUT: Brayden Willis, Cameron Latu, Jake Tonges, Mason Pline**
The skinny: The 49ers finally signed a backup tight end who has consistently proven a threat in the receiving game. Thomas' addition may well spell the end for both of their 2023 draft picks at the position, Latu and Willis, though the latter is a good candidate to land on the practice squad. Latu still hasn't practiced this offseason following knee surgery that wiped out his rookie year.
Offensive line (9)
IN: Trent Williams (LT), Aaron Banks (LG), Jake Brendel (C), Jon Feliciano (RG), Colton McKivitz (RT), Spencer Burford, Chris Hubbard, Ben Bartch, Dominick Puni*
OUT: Jaylon Moore, Jarrett Kingston*, Sebastian Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon, Corey Luciano, Nick Zakelj, Brandon Parker, Drake Nugent**, Briason Mays**
The skinny: I had Burford missing out in the first version of this, but offensive line coach Chris Foerster's comments that he is the most talented of their options at right guard have led me to revise things. Burford could be cut, but it appears there's still belief in him inside the building. The 49ers signed veteran swing tackle Hubbard to a deal with guaranteed money, giving him an edge over 2021 fifth-round pick Moore. Kingston made the cut in my last crack at this, but I could see the 49ers releasing him then sneaking the versatile rookie on to the practice squad.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Nick Bosa (DE), Javon Hargrave, (DT), Maliek Collins (DT), Leonard Floyd (DE), Yetur Gross-Matos, Kevin Givens, Jordan Elliott, Drake Jackson, Kalia Davis, Robert Beal Jr.
OUT: T.Y. McGill, Austin Bryant, Alex Barrett, Spencer Waege, Shakel Brown, Sam Okuayinonu, Evan Anderson**
The skinny: No changes to this extremely deep group. The 49ers recently signed Brown, whom they had their eye on after the 2023 draft, following a successful tryout at rookie minicamp for the former Tennessee Titans defender. Right now, though, it's tough to see him cracking the 53.
Linebacker (5)
IN: Fred Warner (MIKE), De'Vondre Campbell (WILL), Dee Winters (SAM), Ezekiel Turner, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
OUT: Curtis Robinson, Jalen Graham, Tatum Bethune*, Dre Greenlaw (PUP)
The skinny: It's unclear when Greenlaw will return and general manager John Lynch has previously spoken about him starting the year on PUP. Winters has received significant plaudits during the workout program and appears to be the favroite to start on base downs, at least while Greenlaw is out. Flannigan-Fowles' base salary of $1.76 million is guaranteed, making him a near certainty to make the team.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Charvarius Ward (CB), Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Renardo Green* (nickel), Isaac Yiadom, Rock Ya-Sin, Darrell Luter Jr
OUT: Chase Lucas, Ambry Thomas, Samuel Womack III, Kemon Hall, Jaylen Mahoney**
The skinny: Green's apparent success in handling both outside corner and nickel snaps during OTAs and minicamp have boosted the second-round pick's hopes of playing starter snaps as rookie. Luter has also been praised and would seem to have the inside track over Thomas and Womack for the final spot on the depth chart.
Safety (4)
IN: Ji'Ayir Brown, Talanoa Hufanga, Malik Mustapha*, George Odum
OUT: Erik Harris, Tayler Hawkins
The skinny: There's still the possibility the Niners could add a veteran from what is still a deep pool of free agents at a position where their depth is shaky. Hufanga is being cautious while targeting a Week 1 return from surgery on the ACL tear he suffered last November.
Specialists (3)
IN: Jake Moody (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taylor Pepper (LS)
OUT:
The skinny: No changes from 2023. The 49ers' special teams unit overall wasn't great last year, but Moody finished a rookie season that had some lows extremely strongly in the Super Bowl and Wishnowsky had the best season of his career. More of the same, and improved play from the coverage units as the league adapts to new kickoff rules, will be required.
The Final Word
It's tough for too much to change off the back of a workout program in which live contact is not permitted and a host of players, despite reporting to the facility, did not practice.
The equation at tight end has certainly changed, however, and the Niners are likely to have more confidence in playing their top two rookies after seeing the ease with which they have settled into life in the pros to this point.
We'll learn a lot more about the most stacked roster in the NFL once the 49ers return for training camp late next month.
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