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San Francisco 49ers: 10 players who have a lot to prove in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first 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: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first 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) /
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HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 18: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers tosses the ball during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 18: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers tosses the ball during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Year three of the San Francisco 49ers’ rebuild under head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will be crucial, and these 10 players will have a lot to prove in 2019.

The San Francisco 49ers are all but required to exceed the net production generated over the past two seasons — campaigns which resulted in a 10-22 combined record between 2017 and 2018.

While each of those years has its fair share of excuses and reasons (a roster teardown in 2017 and a slew of key injuries in 2018), the NFL remains a bottom-line business where wins and losses matter.

Regardless of the reasons, the last two years haven’t been productive enough for the Niners.

Combine this notion with the idea the league is little more than a “what have you done for me lately?” enterprise, and you can see why there’s a lot of pressure going around the roster. While general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are calling the shots, and whatever takes place in 2019 falls on their watch, the players are the ones ultimately responsible for the team’s successes and failures.

Following New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s mantra of “do your job,” it’s understandable every player on San Francisco’s 90-man roster is under pressure to perform this offseason. Likewise, the 53-man regular-season roster will be feeling the same pressure, too.

Yet some are going to bear the burden a bit more than others.

In certain cases, the performance necessity is based off roster depth and competition for starting jobs. Others have free agency or contract negotiations to think about. The rest? Well, they might essentially be “carrying the team’s chances” on their shoulders.

Here are 10 players who’ll have a lot to prove over the course of 2019.