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Predicting What the San Francisco 49ers Starting Lineup Looks Like in 2018

By Peter Panacy

Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers punter Bradley Pinion (5) punts the ball during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers punter Bradley Pinion (5) punts the ball during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Special Teams

Kicker: Free Agent

Punter: Bradley Pinion

Long-Snapper: Kyle Nelson

Special teams don’t get a lot of love, but they’re no less than important.

It’s hard to see 41-year-old veteran Phil Dawson returning to his 49ers kicking duties in 2017, let alone 2018. So look for San Francisco to bring in a free agent, either this year or next, assuming Dawson returns for one more season.

Both punter Bradley Pinion and long-snapper Kyle Nelson will hit contract years after 2018, so their tenures are on the line.

But it’s unlikely San Francisco wants to shake up the punter position, especially considering the team invested a fifth-round pick in Pinion back in 2015.

And no one knows, Nelson’s name. That’s a good thing for a long-snapper.