San Francisco 49ers: 10 Players Entering a Make-or-Break Season in 2016

The San Francisco 49ers are employing a youth movement in 2016. As the roster moves towards younger players, how will older and more established veterans respond to the competition? We take a look at 10 players on the Niners roster who will have to prove themselves this season in order to stay with the team.

Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.

Even the best of players continuously have to showcase their abilities and push themselves to stay atop the competition. For each and every starter on a 53-man roster, there are at least two or three guys vying for his spot.

Such is the case for the San Francisco 49ers entering the 2016 season. The team is coming off an underwhelming 5-11 campaign a year ago, but the Niners have a new head coach in Chip Kelly and are looking to developing a new core group this year and beyond.

NFL roster construction is the art of successfully replacing players with younger and cheaper ones, while not losing much insofar as on-field effectiveness and impact.

So, as new players come in, others have to go.

The 49ers have more than their fair share of underwhelming, underperforming or soon-to-be cast-aside players on their roster. Some, maybe all, of these players might not make it to the 53-man roster to start the season. We won’t know until Week 1.

Regardless, and for whatever reasons, let’s take a look at 10 49ers who will have to prove themselves throughout camp, the preseason and during 2016 if they hope to remain with San Francisco any point thereafter.

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