Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Way-too-early 53-man roster projections for 2019

By Robert Morrison

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Members of the San Francisco 49ers line up in the tunnel to take the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Members of the San Francisco 49ers line up in the tunnel to take the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 18: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes rushes for a first down on a fake punt play against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 18: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes rushes for a first down on a fake punt play against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Specialists (3): K Robbie Gould, P Mitch Wishnowsky, LS Colin Holba

This is trickier than it looks.

Yes, the team used the franchise tag on Robbie Gould during the offseason. But as of now, the kicker hasn’t signed the tender, although it seems likely he’ll do so before the year starts, since the other option for the former Chicago Bears man is to retire, since the team has already stated they won’t honor his trade request.

Mitch Wishnowsky is the team’s fourth-round draft pick, and the team has already talked about how they want him around for years to come, so he’s a lock to make the roster.

The complicated part is what happens when long-snapper Kyle Nelson returns from the remainder of his 10-game suspension after Week 7. The Niners owe Nelson a lot more money. But while dropping him will allow for some cap relief, it also means $930,000 in dead money, according to Over the Cap.

The team also signed undrafted free agent, Chris Wilkerson, to compete at the position. But given the contract situation, he’d have to be a significant upgrade over either of the incumbents.