Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Early bubble-watch projections for 2018

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (left) talks with teammates in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (left) talks with teammates in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Kendrick Bourne #84, Dexter McCoil #27, Cassius Marsh #54, Tyvis Powell #45 Mark Nzeocha #46 and Elijah Lee #47 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Kendrick Bourne #84, Dexter McCoil #27, Cassius Marsh #54, Tyvis Powell #45 Mark Nzeocha #46 and Elijah Lee #47 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Niner Noise takes a look at the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason roster and breaks down the bubble watch as the team nears OTAs and training camp in 2018. Who is safe, on the bubble or facing a long shot?

There’s a long way to go before we can accurately predict how the San Francisco 49ers‘ 53-man roster shapes up for Week 1 of the 2018 season.

Organized team activities (OTAs), training camp and the preseason will ultimately determine which players make the final cut and which are on the outside, looking in. There will be risers and fallers, winners and losers, as well as the inevitable injury setbacks to determine the final 53.

But, based off what we know now, it’s worth taking an early look at those players likely to make the cut, as well as those on the fringes.

In this slideshow, we’ll break down the Niners’ offseason roster into four categories:

  • Lock (guaranteed to make the roster, barring injury)
  • Strong bubble (not a guarantee, but looking OK)
  • Weak bubble (probably not going to make it, but you never know)
  • Long shot (little more than camp competition, if that)

We’ll take into account a number of factors, such as a player’s projected impact, contractual obligations, skill set and other notable elements.

Let’s start off with the obvious, those in “lock” status.