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A Detailed Look at the 49ers’ 53-Man Roster

By Peter Panacy

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The San Francisco 49ers’ 53-man roster has been set after the final wave of roster cuts that were finalized on Saturday.

A number of the cuts were surprising. The release of veteran defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was one such move. But, upon closer evaluation, the move makes sense given the rise of rookie defensive end Arik Armstead and the 49ers’ plans to utilize him.

San Francisco now has to gear up its roster in preparation for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.

The official depth chart has yet to be released per the team’s website. But we can get a good idea based on incumbent performance, status and preseason efforts.

Quarterback: Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert

There isn’t any surprise here. Colin Kaepernick is the No. 1 guy, and Blaine Gabbert will back him up. No. 3 quarterback Dylan Thompson couldn’t make the cut but is an excellent candidate for the practice squad after a strong effort in the 49ers’ fourth preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.

Running Back: Carlos Hyde, Reggie Bush, Mike Davis, Jarryd Hayne, Bruce Miller (FB)

Carlos Hyde will have his chance to reveal his skills as the 49ers featured running back. Reggie Bush isn’t known for being a between-the-tackles runner but gives Kaepernick a receiving option out of the backfield. I see rookie back Mike Davis ranking over former rugby star Jarryd Hayne given his better football knowledge.

Bruce Miller remains one of the best fullbacks in the league.

Wide Receiver: Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton, DeAndrew White

Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith will be the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 wideouts, respectively. The No. 3 spot would have gone to Jerome Simpson, but he will be suspended for the first six games of the season. That leaves second-year pro wide receiver Bruce Ellington as the favorite here after an outstanding effort against San Diego.

The question will be which receiver has to go when Simpson returns in Week 7.

Tight End: Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Blake Bell, Kyle Nelson (LS)

The 49ers hope tight end Vernon Davis returns to 2013 form and does not repeat the efforts that happened last year. And No. 2 tight end Vance McDonald’s future might look brighter given some of the concerns along San Francisco’s offensive line. McDonald can block. So can perennial backup Garrett Celek. And rookie tight end Blake Bell remains a project after playing just one year at tight end while at Oklahoma.

Offensive Line: LT Joe Staley, LG Alex Boone, C Marcus Martin, RG Jordan Devey, RT Erik Pears, OG Brandon Thomas, OT Trenton Brown, C Nick Easton, OG Ian Silberman

I was a little surprised offensive guard Brandon Thomas didn’t play with the first-team unit down the stretch of the preseason. But his efforts against San Diego were not particularly inspiring. The left side of the line looks fine. The question is how the right side holds up.

The recent acquisition of Nick Easton reinforces this unit. The former undrafted free agent had an excellent preseason and could supply some much-needed depth until injured center Daniel Kilgore returns.

Defensive Line: DT Glenn Dorsey, NT Ian Williams, DT Quinton Dial, DT Tank Carradine, DT Tony Jerod-Eddie, DT Arik Armstead, NT Mike Purcell

The 49ers will likely start defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams and Quinton Dial in their base defense. Defensive ends Tank Carradine and, perhaps, Armstead will get the nod on passing downs. Armstead’s strong effort in the latter half of the preseason permitted the 49ers with a reason to part ways with Dockett.

This unit remains one of the deepest of the 49ers defense.

Outside Linebacker: Ahmad Brooks, Aaron Lynch, Eli Harold, Corey Lemonier

With linebacker Aldon Smith gone, the 49ers will scramble to establish a pass rush. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks will remain with the team after being charged in the December incident that forced the release of defensive end Ray McDonald. And a lot will be expected from second-year pro Aaron Lynch.

Inside Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Nick Bellore, Shayne Skov

The return of All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman instantly upgrades this depleted unit. He’ll be joined by Michael Wilhoite who has been a serviceable backup for multiple years. I thought linebacker Nick Moody would have made the squad, but the 49ers obviously felt more comfortable with Nick Bellore and Shayne Skov moving forward.

Cornerback: Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker, Keith Reaser, Dontae Johnson, Shareece Wright

Tramaine Brock was almost guaranteed the No. 1 spot at this position. The question was who would start opposite him. The initial thought was four-year pro Shareece Wright would get the nod here. But he hurt his chances with poor efforts in the preseason.

Second-year pros Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser had strong preseasons and quickly climbed the depth charts. The real test will be how they match up with top-tier receivers in regular-season games.

Safety: Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward, L.J. McCray

Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid are quietly one of the best safety tandems in the league. Rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt looked phenomenal in the preseason and brings a meanness to the secondary that has been absent for some time. Jimmie Ward will, again, be asked to perform nickel duties provided his foot doesn’t hinder him like it did last season.

And L.J. McCray’s stellar special teams work negated any need to retain veteran safety Craig Dahl into 2015.

Kicker: Phil Dawson

There isn’t any surprises here. Dawson remains an integral part of the 49ers offense — a good or bad thing depending on how you view it.

Punter: Bradley Pinion

Rookie Bradley Pinion’s strong leg gave the 49ers an option to trade off established veteran Andy Lee. Pinion still has some work to do as far as his punting abilities are concerned, but he’s clearly got the power. And we could also see the rookie handle the kick-off duties.

The weakest position is, without doubt, the O-line. Aside from the left, this unit doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence moving forward. The tandem of Devey and Pears had a rough season last year per Pat Thorman of Pro Football Focus.

And the center position could be of some concern until Kilgore’s return. Martin had up-and-down moments last year after Kilgore’s injury. The hope is that a year of work only plays into his benefit. And developing players like Martin, Brown, Silberman and Easton eventually step up into a more prominent role.

San Francisco’s strongest position is the D-line. The release of Dockett speaks to its depth, and it’s a positive sign for Armstead in receiving an increased role. The challenge for the defensive front will be to establish a strong run defense and ensure the 49ers pass-rushers can have opportunities to get to the quarterback.

The wild cards for San Francisco this year are many.

Smith can stretch the defense with his speed. The 49ers need that to ensure other targets like Boldin and Davis won’t have as tight of coverage. And it will be interesting to see how the offense utilizes Bush and whether or not swing and screen passes become a regular part of the passing attack.

Hayne is a phenomenal story for San Francisco at a time when the franchise needs good news.

But Hayne probably won’t figure into the running game all too often. He’ll primarily be a return specialist until he truly masters the art of running the ball at the NFL level.

And, of course, the majority of focus will fall on Kaepernick. He has all the tools to be a top-tier quarterback in this league. We’ve seen flashes of them but not on a consistent basis. It’s anyone’s guess whether or not Kaepernick emulates his 2012 form or if he continues the regression that plagued him a season ago.

His efforts, or lack thereof, may be the crucial linchpin in determining how San Francisco’s 2015 campaign goes.

Next: 49ers Final Roster Cuts -- Instant Thoughts

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

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