The San Francisco 49ers take the field this week for Phase 3 of the offseason program. The closer we get to summer, the closer we get to real football. It’s spring, which means we’ll need to settle for OTAs
There’s generally a 10-practice schedule over a three-week period, which kicked off on Wednesday. Practice is open to the media on Thursday, so we’ll get our first glimpse at the rookie class and free agents.
Here are five things we’ll be watching for.
The rotation of the running backs
I remember in 2021, after the 49ers drafted two running backs. Trey Sermon could get the first crack at it. There wasn’t anything that stood out when Sermon touched the ball. Then, this jacked, undersized, speedy runner wearing No. 49 subbed in with the 3s.
That looked different. It didn’t take long for the 49ers to realize Elijah Mitchell was a better football player than Sermon. By training camp, Mitchell had the upper hand. That carried over into the season and remained true for the next few seasons.
Christian McCaffrey is the unquestioned leader of the backfield. Rookie Kaelon Black and second-year runner Jordan James will duke it out for RB2, while Isaac Guerendo will do everything in his power to remind the coaching staff that he’s still on the roster.
I’d expect James to start out ahead of Black. Now, whether that’s the case heading into August is another story. Both players will have their opportunities during the preseason and even in the regular season. It wouldn’t be surprising if this turns out to be a “ride the hot hand” if neither player separates themselves.
The revolving door at left guard
The 49ers left Aaron Banks walk in free agency. Last year, they cycled through three left guards. In an effort to ensure that doesn’t happen again in 2026, the 49ers signed Robert Jones and Brett Toth and drafted Carver Willis. Those moves suggest the team wants a veteran to win the job, but is content if it ends up like Dominick Puni’s rookie season, where the first-year player wins the job.
Don’t be shocked if Willis is working multiple positions early on to see where he fits best. He may be the long-term option at center after Jake Brendel’s contract expires. We know Willis won’t play the position he played in college. That could lead to a bit of a learning curve, giving the veterans ahead of him a better shot to start.
If healthy, the player who has played the highest level for a full season is Jones. If Jones can recapture his 2024 form, the 49ers will have their best offensive line, arguably ever, under the current regime. That might speak more to how volatile the play at left guard has been in recent seasons.
Wide receiver alignments
Mike Evans has primarily lined up out wide throughout his career. Last year with Tampa Bay, 165 of Evans’ routes came out wide while 62 were in the slot. That’s par for the course. I doubt that’ll be the case with Kyle Shanahan.
Let’s use Demarcus Robinson’s 2025 as an example. He had 152 routes out wide compared to 100 in the slot, and even eight from a “tight” alignment. The data tells us that Shanahan wants his bigger wideouts closer to the line of scrimmage. Ricky Pearsall ran 209 routes out wide last season, but only 50 in the slot. Then again, he had 19 “tight” routes.
I’d imagine Evans and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling will be featured closer to the line of scrimmage in “nasty” splits, which is a yard or two away from the offensive tackle. That’s for run-game purposes, but it also puts them in a position where they can’t get jammed off the line of scrimmage and will more than likely face a linebacker or safety in coverage.
Will any of the UDFA safeties make noise?
If I’m an undrafted rookie safety, I’m champing at the bit to show what I can do. The safety play last season for the 49ers left a lot to be desired. While it’s fair to say they needed to defend longer than usual without a hint of a pass rush, whichever safety was on the field was consistently out of phase in coverage.
Jalen Stroman and Larry Worth are on opposite ends of the athletic spectrum. Maybe Jakob Robinson gets a crack at safety. If one of these young players can show they have playmaking skills or a knack for being around the ball, they will slowly but surely climb the depth chart this spring and summer.
Moving parts in the front 7
When you fail to rush the passer as the 49ers did last year, there are no jobs set in stone. We know Alfred Collins has the leg-up because of his draft status. We’re aware of CJ West’s prowess as a run defender. But if you’re Gracen Halton, after the season he just had in college, you’re thinking, why can’t I start? Some analysts thought Halton would be drafted in the second round.
What will we see from Nick Martin? The addition of Dre Greenlaw means the 49ers’ third-rounder from a year ago takes a backseat once again. Will he learn WILL, or is Martin’s best opportunity to get on the field at SAM linebacker?
Martin and Romello Height could be a part of Raheem Morris’s blitz packages once the season comes along. Height is the prototypical designated pass rusher. He adds juice that the Niners simply did not have on the roster last season. The same is true for Halton, but Martin isn’t exactly a snail.
Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are returning from ACL injuries, but in the next few weeks, and even once we get into training camp, there will be opportunities for somebody to make a name for themselves along the defensive line. The question is, will that somebody take advantage?
49ers OTA dates: May 27-29, June 1, June 3-4
Mandatory minicamp: June 9-10
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