San Francisco 49ers: Full Prediction of 53-Man Roster in 2016

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October 22, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) blocks Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Line

Starters: Joe Staley, Joshua Garnett, Daniel Kilgore, Zane Beadles, Trent Brown
Reserves: John Theus, Fahn Cooper, Andrew Tiller, Marcus Martin
On the Bubble: Erik Pears, Brandon Thomas
Potential Practice Squad: Ian Silberman, Colin Kelly, Blake Muir, Alex Balducci, Norman Price

Four of the five starters here seem fairly set. Joe Staley is the best offensive lineman the 49ers have; a true legend on the team who is still performing well, even at the wrong side of 30. Zane Beadles is the biggest free agent the 49ers signed this offseason, and should be penciled in at right guard. The 49ers’ didn’t use a first-round pick on Joshua Garnett to see him sitting on the bench. Daniel Kilgore was missed when he was hurt last year, and should be heavily favored to win the starting center job.

Trent Brown is the leader in the clubhouse to start at right tackle. He was occasionally working with the starters even as a rookie, and nabbed a few starts last year. He was better than Erik Pears was, albeit in limited action. Rookies John Theus and Fahn Cooper could also figure into the starting competition, and both should make the roster based on their draft position.

The team needs a backup center, and Marcus Martin is the player on the roster with the most experience there.

That leaves a backup interior lineman spot up for grabs. Andrew Tiller really impressed me last season, and had the draft gone another way, I could have seen him really competing for a starting spot. As it is, I think he’s in a three-way fight for the last active slot on the roster, beating out the more experienced Erik Pears and Brandon Thomas, who has never really recovered from the injury he suffered before being drafted.

Everyone else looks like a longshot, and are battling for practice squad spots more than anything else.

Next: Defensive Line