Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 too-early roster predictions for 2019 rookies

By Jeremy Wohlfart

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Kaden Smith #82 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a touchdown pass while covered by Shaun Crawford #20 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Kaden Smith #82 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a touchdown pass while covered by Shaun Crawford #20 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Every drafted rookie will make the 49ers roster

The 49ers pursued a late-round strategy of picking players they feel would make the roster (which explains their lack of secondary picks, as the 49ers have a lot of young talent there from earlier seasons). And it looks like if every rookie plays at least somewhat well in the preseason, we should see everyone make it.

The way I see it, the drafted rookies are split into three categories in this regard:

The obvious starters/high picks:

This one is pretty easy, as everyone in the first four rounds apply here.

Bosa, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd, and punter Mitch Wishnowsky are all penciled in as either starter or very high in the depth chart. There’s pretty much zero chance of them not making the roster, short of injury or a serious matter off the field.

Late-round starters/backups:

We touched on them before, but Greenlaw and Smith fit here as high-upside players, picked late who look set to make serious runs at the roster. Greenlaw is a potential starter this year, while Smith could take over as backup tight end, which will mean some significant snaps.

Late-round depth:

Here we find the last two picks in Justin Skule (tackle from Vanderbilt) and Tim Harris (defensive back from Virginia).

Both are picks who could very well be on the roster bubble, but the depth situations of both tackle and defensive back means, if they hold their own, they can be put on the roster.

It’s not a perfect list, but there’s no late-round pick who might be stuck in a deep depth chart. All eight draft picks can very well see themselves on the 53-man roster after final cuts.

Next. 3 breakout candidates for 49ers after 2019 NFL Draft. dark

The battles have only just begun in rookie minicamp, and will begin in earnest during training camp and preseason. But the rookie battles are sure to be one of the most interesting battles we see when it all gets underway.