San Francisco 49ers: Early bubble-watch projections for 2018
By Peter Panacy
Strong Bubble
EDGE Jeremiah Attaochu, DL Ronald Blair, WR Kendrick Bourne, RB Matt Breida, OG Jonathan Cooper, LB Brock Coyle, DL Sheldon Day, LB Reuben Foster, S Marcell Harris, WR Richie James, DT D.J. Jones, OL Erik Magnuson, CB Tarvarus McFadden, RB Raheem Mostert, CB D.J. Reed, DT Jullian Taylor, OG Laken Tomlinson, LB Korey Toomer, LB Dekoda Watson, CB K’Waun Williams
San Francisco 49ers
Ah, where things get a bit more interesting.
These are the players whose guarantee to make the roster isn’t a sure thing. But most of them have a solid chance to crack the 53-man roster for Week 1.
Interestingly enough, we decided to include second-year linebacker Reuben Foster on this list, not for his on-field play, but rather because of the off-field incidents that plagued him this offseason.
While Foster’s legal situation looks slightly better now than it did a few months ago, general manager John Lynch wasn’t hesitant in noting the team’s intentions if Foster is, indeed, found guilty of domestic violence.
As for the rest, well, most of that involves some yet-to-be determined camp competition.
For example, running back Raheem Mostert and linebacker Dekoda Watson are both relatively deep on positional depth charts. Yet both offer a lot of value on special teams. While special teams aren’t of particular interest to offensive guards Laken Tomlinson and Jonathan Cooper, there’s a strong chance both make the roster with one of them being a prime interior backup.
It will also be fun to watch rookies like wide receiver Richie James, safety Marcell Harris and cornerback D.J. Reed try to assume various roles too, especially if they impress between now and the preseason.