49ers roster bubble-watch breakdown after 2019 minicamp

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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Lock: Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Dee Ford, D.J. Jones, Solomon Thomas

Strong Bubble: Ronald Blair, Sheldon Day, Kentavius Street

Weak Bubble: Cedric Thornton, Jullian Taylor

Long Shot: Jamell Garcia-Williams, Kevin Givens, Kapron Lewis-Moore

The 49ers have a ton of depth along the defensive line, which is great news. And it’s possible to lock down three starters in both base formations and sub packages.

You should be able to figure those players out, and third-year pro D.J. Jones winds up being the nose tackle in base situations.

We’ll see a position battle between defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas, but both will be around for Week 1. San Francisco’s top rookie, EDGE Nick Bosa, is nursing a hamstring injury, but there’s no reason to question his pending role. Same goes for EDGE Dee Ford.

After that, things get interesting.

Reserve defensive lineman Ronald Blair was tied for second on the team in sacks last season (5.5) and seems to quietly put together solid campaigns on a year-to-year basis. That alone won’t make him a lot, but he looks good. Likewise, the 2018 redshirted Kentavius Street looks to be fully recovered from his pro-day ACL tear a year ago, and his sheer strength might be enticing enough.

Veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Day is a player whose stock has risen during minicamp, too.