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San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 5 Long Shots Who Make the 2016 53-Man Roster

By Peter Panacy

Nov 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Devon Cajuste (89) catches a pass as Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Cole Luke (36) defends in the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Devon Cajuste (89) catches a pass as Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Cole Luke (36) defends in the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Marcus Rush (44) stands on the field between plays during the 1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Marcus Rush (44) stands on the field between plays during the 1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: LB Marcus Rush

Second-year linebacker Marcus Rush spent 2015 on the practice squad, but he has a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster largely due to the four-game suspension handed out to starting pass-rusher Aaron Lynch.

With Lynch out of the picture for the first four games of 2016, the Niners will want to fill any sort of pass-rushing void with someone capable of getting to the quarterback on a regular basis.

This won’t be Rush. Rather, we’ll likely see someone like Tank Carradine, Eli Harold or, possibly, Corey Lemonier pushed up the depth chart.

Rush won’t beat out Carradine, and it’s hard to see him passing over second-year pro, and third-round pick, Harold. But there is a battle to watch between Rush and Lemonier, who has largely been a disappointment since being drafted in Round 3 of the 2013 NFL Draft.

NBC Bay Area’s Doug Williams elaborated further:

"Now, the door is slightly open for Rush to push his way onto the roster with a strong camp and good reviews over the exhibition season. Starting outside linebacker Aaron Lynch won’t be able to play the first four games because of suspension, and that increases Rush’s chances. He’ll have to outplay one or two others among Corey Lemonier, converted defensive end Tank Carradine and undrafted rookies Jason Fanaika and Lenny Jones to earn a job on the active roster."

Is it a long shot? Sure. But, by this point, the Niners probably know what they have in Lemonier. They may not know as much about what Rush offers against NFL-ready competition, so the team may elect to move in that direction.

Next: No. 1: WR Devon Cajuste