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49ers Preseason: Evaluating Bubble-Watch Players for Each Position

By Peter Panacy

Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson (9) kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson (9) kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Special Teams

Lock: P Bradley Pinion, LS Kyle Nelson

Pretty Good: K Phil Dawson

Strong Bubble: None

Weak Bubble: K John Lunsford

We won’t worry about special teams contributors outside the specialists, but the only apparent competition here is between veteran kicker Phil Dawson and rookie undrafted free-agent kicker John Lunsford.

Maybe this is a competition, but the Niners did sign Dawson to a one-year, $3.134 million contract extension during the offseason.

The 49ers could elect to get younger and cheaper, and parting ways with Dawson would do this. Lunsford had a pretty good leg during his time at Liberty.

But doing so raises another question instead of answering one. And the Niners have plenty of questions on the table already.

Next: Safety