post-NFL draft projections<\/a>.<\/p>\nQuarterbacks (3) – Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, Sam Darnold<\/h3>\n
The biggest surprise entering training camp, at least for those of us on the outside, was Purdy being fully healthy. That meant he\u2019d take all the first-team reps, which is what\u2019s happened.<\/p>\n
The only quarterback competition has been for the backup spot, which is closer than many may have expected. After Saturday\u2019s practice, Trey Lance has the slight edge, but we still have a few weeks to go if Sam Darnold wants to be QB2.<\/p>\n
Running backs (5) – Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Ty Davis-Price<\/h3>\n
The 49ers have an argument for having the deepest roster in the NFL, and these first couple of positions are pretty good evidence as to why. The team has taken it easy on McCaffrey\u2019s practice reps through the first nine days.<\/p>\n
But Elijah Mitchell hasn\u2019t been as fortunate to avoid the injury bug. Mitchell missing time has opened the door for second-year runners Mason and Davis-Price, both who have proven more than capable of giving McCaffrey a breather.<\/p>\n
Davis-Price\u2019s body type looks different, and he has more of a burst in Year 2. Mason is still the bruising back, but this time around, he\u2019s comfortable catching passes out of the backfield.<\/p>\n
Wide receivers (5) – Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Danny Gray, Ray-Ray McCloud<\/h3>\n
It\u2019ll take an exceptional preseason from Willie Snead, Ronnie Bell, Isaiah Winstead, or Tay Martin to make the roster. The first five are locked in, which means another wideout must go above and beyond to prove their worth over an extra lineman on either side of the ball. That\u2019ll be difficult to do considering there are only so many targets to go around.<\/p>\n
Aiyuk has been the best player during the first week or so of camp, but Deebo Samuel isn\u2019t getting the notoriety that he should. Samuel looks flexible, fast, and far superior to the player in training camp of 2022.<\/p>\n
Tight Ends (3) – George Kittle, Ross Dwelley, Cameron Latu<\/h3>\n
After the draft, I projected both rookie tight ends to make the roster. I\u2019m still not sold that Latu makes it, but he gets the benefit of the doubt thanks to the round he was selected in.<\/p>\n
Charlie Woerner is the better blocker, but he\u2019s giving the team next to nothing in the passing game. So, Latu also gets the nod thanks to his athleticism and upside.<\/p>\n
Brayden Willis appears to be a year away. He\u2019s struggled mightily on the edge as a blocker in the running game. There\u2019s potential to be a mismatch in the passing game, but not enough to earn a roster spot. Willis will make the practice squad and either he or Latu will be the successor to Juszczyk once No. 44 decides to hang up the cleats.<\/p>\n
Offensive line (9): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz, Matt Pryor, Jon Feliciano, Jaylon Moore, Keith Ismael<\/h3>\n
From the starters through Feliciano are locked in along the offensive line. Jaylon Moore has been out for most of camp due to a bone bruise, but the backups have left a lot to be desired.<\/p>\n
If the Niners end up carrying eight on the active roster, that wouldn\u2019t be a surprise considering how everyone else looks. But I\u2019ll go is Ismael as Chris Foerster singled him out for his versatility over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Defense<\/h2>\nDefensive line (10) – Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave, Drake Jackson, Clelin Ferrell, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens, Kerry Hyder, Robert Beal Jr., Taco Charlton<\/h3>\n
Nine isn\u2019t enough as all ten deserve to make the roster and players such as Alex Barrett and T.Y. McGill aren\u2019t far behind. <\/p>\n
Austin Bryant isn\u2019t doing himself any favors as he\u2019s been out with an injury. \u201cYou can\u2019t make the club from the tub,\u201d is a famous saying, and that goes for Kalia Davis, too.<\/p>\n
Kinlaw looks like a changed man, Ferrell will be a contributor, while Hyder isn\u2019t going anywhere anytime soon.<\/p>\n
Beal Jr. is toeing the line as he\u2019s missed a few practices in a row, but he\u2019s also flashed enough to make the cut. <\/p>\n
Newcomer Taco Charlton has not disappointed and is in a position to go against third-teamers all August, which will only help his cause come August 29.<\/p>\n
Linebackers (5) – Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Oren Burks, Marcelino McCrary-Ball<\/h3>\n
The 49ers drafted two linebackers and, as of today, I don\u2019t think they make the final 53. That may come as a shock, but McCrary-Ball looks closer to a starter than a backup. He lives around the ball.<\/p>\n
DFF and Burks are your core special team players, while Dee Winters and Jalen Graham will make the practice squad and could make an appearance on the active roster at some point during the season.<\/p>\n
Winters has the better chance between him and Graham, and if he shines during the preseason, Burks or DFF could get the boot. My reasoning is you want veterans on special teams, and neither are going to play as the SAM linebacker in your base defense. So, where would they play if they made the roster?<\/p>\n
Cornerbacks (6) – Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Samuel Womack, Isaiah Oliver, D\u2019Shawn Jamison, Darrell Luter Jr.<\/h3>\n
Luter Jr. hasn\u2019t practiced yet, but he comes from a similar scheme in college and I doubt the 49ers will run the risk of him getting poached on the practice squad. This may very well be a redshirt year for Luter Jr.<\/p>\n
The same cannot be said for Jamison, who jumped Ambry Thomas on the second team in a matter of two practices. It\u2019d be an upset if the UDFA from Texas didn\u2019t make the team. Jamison can play inside and out, and has made more plays on the ball in a week than anybody not named Charvarius Ward.<\/p>\n
Safety (4) – Tashaun Gipson, Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum, Ji\u2019Ayir Brown<\/h3>\n
Nothing too crazy for the safety group. Odum is the special teams’ demon, while Gipson, Hufanga, and Brown will all play at times. Hufanga looks poised for another big year, while Gipson is more than serviceable in man coverage. That allows the defense to be versatile and flexible.<\/p>\n
Specialists (3): Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper<\/h3>\n
We\u2019re not far off from Moody being the only player receiving reps in practice. We\u2019re all far from being a kicker expert, but Moody has a boot and his leg is considerably stronger than Robbie Gould\u2019s. The only question will be, can he make a clutch kick in the playoffs when the 49ers need him the most?<\/p>\n
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Photo by Michael Zagaris\/San Francisco 49ers\/Getty Images The majority of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":9377174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pgc_meta":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[427,91],"yoast_head":"\n
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