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

Locks

DT Arik Armstead, QB C.J. Beathard, DT DeForest Buckner, TE Garrett Celek, DB Adrian Colbert, OG Joshua Garnett, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Pierre Garçon, WR Marquise Goodwin, K Robbie Gould, LB Eli Harold, FB Kyle Juszczyk, TE George Kittle, EDGE Cassius Marsh, OT Mike McGlinchey, RB Jerick McKinnon, NT Earl Mitchell, DB Tarvarius Moore, LS Kyle Nelson, WR Dante Pettis, P Bradley Pinion, C Weston Richburg, CB Richard Sherman, LB Malcolm Smith, OT Joe Staley, S Jaquiski Tartt, WR Trent Taylor, DT Solomon Thomas, DB Jimmie Ward, LB Fred Warner, CB Ahkello Witherspoon

This is a pretty straight-forward list.

There are only a handful of positional battles that seem up for grabs this season, although a few of the involved players will assuredly be in a best-case chance to make the roster.

Case in point, defensive back Jimmie Ward likely makes the cut because he’s owed $8.526 million in guaranteed money this season. And while there’s a pretty stiff competition in the backfield brewing, Ward’s versatility to play safety or any of the cornerback spots makes him a likable commodity.

Even if no more than just depth. Same goes for defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who was just awarded with a fifth-year option for 2019. It’s a “prove it” year for Armstead, so he’ll easily make the cut.

Determining his exact role, however, is a bit tougher. But we’re not here for that right now.