Let’s project the 53-man roster one day from the cutdown deadline.
The San Francisco 49ers are getting prepared to cut down their roster to 53 players by Tuesday’s 1:00 P.M. deadline, meaning there will be a massive change over the next 30 hours to the current team.
After the new deadline rules, teams are allowed to keep 90 players on their roster until cutdown day, allowing for decisions to be made after all three preseason games.
With the 49ers set to make moves soon, let’s project the 53-man roster one final time.
Quarterbacks (3)
Brock Purdy
Josh Dobbs
Brandon Allen
My thoughts on the quarterback room haven’t changed.
Brock Purdy is the unquestioned starter. And the 49ers have been actively evaluating their backup quarterback situation, with Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen competing for the No. 2 role.
When it’s all said and done, I expect Dobbs to be the backup as he’s gotten more accustomed to the team ahead of the season, but Allen to remain on the roster, as the 49ers have carried three quarterbacks over the past few seasons.
Tanner Mordecai should safely make it to the practice squad, rounding out the QB room.
Running Backs (5)
Christian McCaffrey
Elijah Mitchell
Jordan Mason
Isaac Guerendo
Kyle Juszczyk
I’ll involve the fullback Kyle Juszczyk here for logistical purposes, but it feels like the running back room has shaken out as expected, with the 49ers carrying four in my projection.
McCaffrey and Mitchell are banged up currently, but those injuries don’t seem to be long term. Mason has seemingly grown into a bigger role this offseason, potentially taking over as the main No. 2 back. And Isaac Guerendo proved his special teams value upon returning from injury last week.
If the 49ers want to keep any of them, backups Matt Breida, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and Cody Schrader should all make the practice squad.
Wide Receivers (6)
Brandon Aiyuk
Deebo Samuel
Jauan Jennings
Ricky Pearsall
Jacob Cowing
Chris Conley
Heading into training camp, I thought the 49ers could carry just five receivers, saving a spot for another position, given how their top five shook out.
However, the lingering Brandon Aiyuk situation, as well as the injury issues that Ricky Pearsall has gone through make it likely that San Francisco takes a sixth receiver onto their 53-man roster (although it may not happen with the original cutdown).
Chris Conley is the favorite for that role, as he’s been the best of the others in training camp, while Kyle Shanahan name-dropped him as a player that could be a part of the team’s plans if Brandon Aiyuk isn’t ready by Week 1.
So, he earns the sixth and final spot on the 53-man roster at receiver.
Tight Ends (4)
George Kittle
Eric Saubert
Brayden Willis
Cameron Latu
This was a position group where I had to think about taking three or four, and also even giving second-year player Jake Tonges the nod over Cameron Latu.
But, ultimately I’m going with my four projected players from before training camp started, as the 49ers give Latu another shot after taking him in the third round last year.
Kittle and Saubert are clear picks to make the team, while Willis has shown enough to be a player for the future in the receiving game.
With Latu making the team, Tonges becomes a candidate for the practice squad, as does undrafted free agent Mason Pline.
Offensive Line (9)
Trent Williams
Aaron Banks
Jake Brendel
Dominick Puni
Colton McKivitz
Jaylon Moore
Spencer Burford
Nick Zakelj
Chris Hubbard
With Trent Williams missing time and still demanding a new contract, the 49ers take nine offensive linemen (and two tackles) instead of eight.
Now, Chris Hubbard may be cut initially before being brought back to make room for Jon Feliciano to go on Injured Reserve, but I expect this to be the nine offensive linemen for the 49ers to begin the year.
The five starters are locked in place, assuming Williams is back for Week 1. Jaylon Moore is the team’s top reserve tackle, while Spencer Burford will be the top interior option.
Usually, the 49ers go with one more offensive lineman, but we’ll go two here, with Zakelj being a guard/center and Hubbard adding extra tackle depth.
Hubbard is strongest on the right side, while Moore predominantly plays the left, so the balance is there.
Defensive Line (8)
Nick Bosa
Leonard Floyd
Yetur Gross-Matos
Robert Beal Jr.
Javon Hargrave
Maliek Collins
Jordan Elliott
Kevin Givens
Initially, I had the 49ers going with more defensive linemen prior to training camp, but I think this room is where San Francisco sees some flexibility on cutdown day.
I believe all eight of these players are locks to make the roster. There’s a clear top three at both defensive end and defensive tackle with the incumbent starter (Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave) and the two free agent additions at both spots.
Then, Robert Beal, a fifth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, has done enough to earn a spot, consistently running with the twos in camp, while Kevin Givens has $2 million in guarantees on his contract.
I expect San Francisco to add following the cutdown deadline, given the recent injuries to Floyd, who is day-to-day, and Gross-Matos, who is week-to-week. But, they go with eight to begin.
Linebackers (6)
Fred Warner
De’Vondre Campbell
Dee Winters
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Jalen Graham
Curtis Robinson
With Dre Greenlaw on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list to begin the season, the 49ers had an opening, leaving either a spot for another position or a chance for an extra player to make the team at linebacker.
Curtis Robinson took advantage of the opportunity and he should make the 53-man roster alongside the other five players, who feel like near locks to make the team, given their expected roles.
Tatum Bethune heads to the practice squad in this scenario, while Greenlaw misses at least the first four games of the season, with a midseason return being the expectation.
Cornerbacks (6)
Charvarius Ward
Deommodore Lenoir
Renardo Green
Isaac Yiadom
Darrell Luter
Rock Ya-Sin
This is one of the deepest cornerback rooms the 49ers have rostered, which is why I have the team keeping six at the position.
Now, like at offensive line, there will be some maneuvering here, as Ambry Thomas should make the initial 53-man roster and then go to Injured Reserve. That could involve a cut elsewhere (perhaps linebacker with Flannigan-Fowles) initially before that player returns after one day.
But, I still think the 49ers go with six cornerbacks even after Thomas heads to IR, as Darrell Luter has looked good in the preseason and is a young cornerback to take a shot on, while Ya-Sin provides solid experience and has over $1 million in guaranteed money.
Safeties (3)
Ji’Ayir Brown
George Odum
Malik Mustapha
Based on Kyle Shanahan’s words, it’s seeming more and more unlikely that Talanoa Hufanga will be ready for Week 1.
At that point, is it worth rushing him back or should the team just keep him on the PUP list for the first four weeks?
I’m expecting the 49ers to do that, leaving only three safeties to make the 53-man roster: Ji’Ayir Brown, George Odum, and Malik Mustapha.
Brown and Odum have started throughout the preseason, while Mustapha could play early on as a reserve and on special teams.
The 49ers worked out safeties earlier in training camp and have Tracy Walker as a call-up option from the practice squad. That could be their strategy for the first four weeks until Hufanga is ready to return at 100 percent health.
If Hufanga does have a positive trajectory and will be ready sooner than later, then the 49ers carry four safeties and make a cut elsewhere (linebacker or offensive line seem the top places) or place another player on Injured Reserve to keep their entire group.
Special Teams (3)
Jake Moody
Mitch Wishnowsky
Taybor Pepper
Mitch Wishnowsky had a minor injury, but should be good to go for the regular season. So, all is set here.