The 49ers did not let a player being a former high draft pick dissuade them from staying on the roster
The San Francisco 49ers cut their roster down from 90 players to 53 on Tuesday by the 1:00 P.M. deadline, with a few surprise cuts and makes on the initial roster. In typical fashion, we are a good bit beyond the deadline.
Trent Williams’s status remains in limbo, and there were difficult decisions to make. The 49ers released the following players:
- OL Ben Bartch
- WR Robbie Chosen
- OL Chris Hubbard
- DL T.Y. McGill Jr.
- OL Brandon Parker
- TE Eric Saubert
- WR Trent Taylor
- TE Logan Thomas
- S Tracy Walker III
- DL Nick Williams
- CB Rock Ya-Sin
While this next group was waived:
- OL Isaac Alarcon
- DL Evan Anderson
- DL Alex Barrett
- DL Shakel Brown
- DL Jonathan Garvin
- LB Jalen Graham
- WR Danny Gray
- OL Sebastian Gutierrez
- OL Jarrett Kingston
- TE Cameron Latu
- CB Chase Lucas
- S Jaylen Mahoney
- WR Tay Martin
- QB Tanner Mordecai
- OL Drake Nugent
- TE Mason Pline
- RB Cody Schrader
- TE Brayden Willis
- CB Samuel Womack III
Here’s how the 49ers initial 53-man roster broke down.
Quarterbacks – Brock Purdy, Brandon Allen, Josh Dobbs
No real surprises here, as NFL teams were informed that the NFLPA vetoed the revised Emergency third quarterback rule. Allen took the majority of QB2 reps during camp and was QB2 in two of the three preseason games.
Running backs – Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor Jr., Kyle Juszczyk
You could list Juszczyk under tight ends, too. But the 49ers have enough depth at running back to take it easy on McCaffrey’s workload throughout the season and ensure he remains healthy all year.
Guerendo is likely the starting kick returner, with Mason spelling CMC and finishing games. Mitchell was placed on season-ending injury. Taylor Jr., a third-down back who excelled in pass protection with the Green Bay Packers, takes Mitchell’s spot.
Wide receiver – Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell
The 49ers ended up keeping seven receivers, with Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell making the initial 53. They will be significant participants on special teams.
The roles seem defined here, with the top three receivers carrying over and the two rookies fitting in. Conley could take over the Aiyuk role until the 49ers resolve that situation.
Tight End – George Kittle, Jake Tonges
Among the surprises was the tight end room, where the 49ers cut both Cam Latu and Brayden Willis, instead keeping undrafted free agent Jake Tonges. Latu and Willis struggled to block. You can’t be a one-dimensional tight end in this offense.
Additionally, they went with just two at the position rather than their usual four, cutting Eric Saubert as well. We’ll see what they do after the initial 53-man roster.
Offensive Line – Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Spencer Burford, Jaylon Moore, Nick Zakelj, Jon Feliciano
Trent Williams is still on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, so he doesn’t count towards the 49ers’ 53-man roster, giving them an extra spot on the initial 53.
But, the 49ers went lighter along the offensive line, keeping just seven players, while cutting both reserve tackles Chris Hubbard and Brandon Parker. Instead, they went with a backup guard (Spencer Burford), backup tackle (Jaylon Moore), and a backup center/guard (Nick Zakelj).
We’ll see what moves the 49ers make here. It’ll be at least one if Trent Williams is activated before Week 1.
Defensive Line – Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Robert Beal Jr., Sam Okuayinonu
Injuries to Gross-Matos meant that the team was likely to keep an extra edge rusher. That player ended up being Okuayinonu. He was an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of Maryland who ended up playing 106 snaps in the preseason. Kris Kocurek and the rest of the defensive line really took to Okuayinonu and his style of play during training camp. He’s a “try hard,” which is a good thing, and is big enough to hold up against the run.
Additionally, the 49ers moved Kalia Davis to Injured Reserve, keeping him on the initial 53. I’d expect the 49ers to make more moves at this position.
Linebackers – Fred Warner, De’Vondre Campbell, Dee Winters, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Curtis Robinson, Tatum Bethune
The 49ers kept six linebackers on the initial 53-man roster, waiving Jalen Graham, while keeping former Stanford product Curtis Robinson, who has been on the practice squad for the last two seasons.
The bigger surprise was keeping 2024 seventh-round pick Tatum Bethune, but the team seemingly preferred him to Graham and will keep six linebackers on their 53.
Cornerbacks – Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Isaac Yiadom, Darrell Luter, Ambry Thomas
The 49ers cut cornerbacks, Samuel Womack and Rock Ya-Sin, keeping six at the position.
Luter and Thomas join the expected four, with the former finally seeing action this offseason following an injury-riddled rookie year, while the latter could go on Injured Reserve tomorrow.
Safeties – Talanoa Hufanga, Ji’Ayir Brown, George Odum, Malik Mustapha
Talanoa Hufanga was activated off the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list, so he’ll take one of the four spots at safety for the 49ers.
With that, the 49ers have their expected four on the 53-man roster.
Special Teams – Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper
Nothing to see here.