Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers roster cuts: 5 biggest surprises to make the 2017 team

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Keith Reaser #27 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Keith Reaser #27 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 26: Outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell #51 of the Green Bay Packers rushes up against John Theus #78 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of their preseason football game at Levi’s Stadium on August 26, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 26: Outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell #51 of the Green Bay Packers rushes up against John Theus #78 of the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of their preseason football game at Levi’s Stadium on August 26, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Offensive Tackle John Theus

I was a little surprised the Niners elected to keep second-year offensive tackle John Theus on the 53-man roster.

Theus, one of former general manager Trent Baalke’s 2016 draft picks, managed to get into four games — starting one of them — his rookie season. All told, Theus finished with a lowly 26.7 overall grade last year, per Pro Football Focus.

The former fifth-round pickup saw 24 snaps last Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers during the Niners’ final preseason tuneup. It’s a big much for a player “guaranteed” to make the roster, so I have to think he’s on the fringes right now.

And as our friend, Nicholas McGee, over at NFL Spin Zone stated, Theus is probably little more than a reserve option behind veteran left tackle Joe Staley:

I could see Theus being one of those players cut at some point this season, perhaps opening up room for some more-needed talent elsewhere.

As of now, though, his addition to the 53-man roster is a bit of a surprise.