Veteran DL Kerry Hyder Jr. has been released, but is expected to re-sign Wednesday
The 49ers have officially announced their “final” 53-man roster, although we’re likely to see several changes throughout the year. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been adamant to his players that the roster is only final for today.
Let’s see how close we got on our final 53-man roster projection. Remember, Nick Bosa doesn’t count toward the current roster limit since he’s on the reserve/did not report list.
We got one right! Jalen Graham, the 49ers 7th round pick, made the initial roster. He’ll likely be a force on special teams. The Niners probably felt they couldn’t get away with Graham on the practice squad.
Another rookie, who hasn’t suited up since OTAs, Darrell Luter, was placed on the reserve/PUP list and will miss the first month of the season. Luter will be eligible to play in Week 5 if he’s healthy enough.
Keep in mind that players with four or fewer accrued seasons who are released are subject to waivers until 9 a.m. PT Wednesday morning. So, for Qwuantrezz Knight, Jason Poe, Ilm Manning, Leroy Watson, and Tay Martin to make the 49ers practice squad, they’ll have to clear waivers.
The following players were waived, which means they are subject to waivers:
DL Alex Barrett
FB Jack Colletto
DL Marlon Davidson
OL Joey Fisher
OL Alfredo Gutierrez
S Myles Hartsfield
OL Keith Ismael
CB D’Shawn Jamison
S Qwuantrezz Knight
OL Corey Luciano
OL Ilm Manning
WR Tay Martin
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
OL Jason Poe
LB Curtis Robinson
CB Tre Swilling
OL Leroy Watson
WR Isaiah Winstead
The following players were released, meaning, they are not subject to waivers:
DL Austin Bryant
WR Chris Conley
TE Troy Fumagalli
RB Brian Hill
DL Kerry Hyder Jr.
DL T.Y. McGill
RB Jeremy McNichols
WR Anthony Miller
WR Willie Snead IV
Matt Maiocco said that both Hyder and Bryant will re-sign with the 49ers on Wednesday.
The following players were placed on the injured reserve:
K Zane Gonzales
S Tayler Hawkins
TE Cameron Latu
CB A.J. Parker
Offense
Three quarterbacks, which isn’t shocking. Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold, and Brandon Allen.
Six wide receivers. Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ronnie Bell. Neither Danny Gray nor Ray-Ray McCloud were placed on the injured reserve, so the 49ers are expecting both to return sometime during September.
Brayden Willis makes the roster with Cameron Latu going on the IR. The tight end room consists of Willis, George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, and Ross Dwelley.
The 49ers kept nine offensive linemen after all, and one was Nick Zakelj. That’s the biggest surprise to me. Here’s a look at the 49ers line:
Trent Williams
Colton McKivitz
Jaylon Moore
Matt Pryor
Spencer Burford
Aaron Banks
Jon Feliciano
Jake Brendel
Nick Zakelj
Zakelj is getting preferential treatment since he was a draft pick, in my mind. You cannot say the same about the three rookies who did make it, Ronnie Bell, Dee Winters, and Jalen Graham. They each earned it with their preseason play.
Defense
So, despite Curtis Robinson and Marcelino McCrary-Ball playing ahead of both rookie linebackers during the games, the 49ers decided to roll with the youngsters. Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles give the Niners six linebackers, with the addition of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
Kalia Davis and Robert Beal Jr. also made the team on the defensive line. Only eight defensive linemen, but that’s without counting Bosa, Hyder Jr., and Bryant. Javon Hargrave and Kevin Givens are your backup defensive tackles. Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson are your starting edge rushers. And there’s the Swiss army knife in Arik Armstead.
The secondary seemed relatively straightforward. Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas, Isaiah Oliver, and Samuel Womack make up the cornerback crew. While Talanoa Hufanga, Tashaun Gipson, George Odum, and Ji’Ayir Brown are your safeties.
Add in the three specialists of Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, and Taybor Pepper, and you have the 49ers 53-man roster.