5 bold predictions for the 49ers 53-man roster in 2019
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Tight End Ross Dwelley Makes the 53-Man Roster
Earlier this offseason, second-year tight end Ross Dwelley looked to be a long shot to make the 49ers’ 53-man roster to start the season.
After all, the Niners drafted Stanford’s Kaden Smith and then inked free-agent veteran Levine Toilolo to a one-year deal. With other rookies Daniel Helm and Tyree Mayfield also in the fray, Dwelley’s chances to hang around looked slim, at best.
But that was before Dwelley started turning heads in training camp. Most importantly, he caught the attention of Kyle Shanahan.
“He’s a legit NFL player and he’s going to help us,” Shanahan told reporters earlier this August.
And just ask The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, too:
The guy who's probably the frontrunner in the 49ers' TE competition (behind Kittle, of course) is Ross Dwelley, an undrafted rookie last year. Dwelley's smart. He spent the offseason in Nashville training with Kittle and C.J. Beathard.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 4, 2019
Smith is probably safe on the 53-man roster. But going with Dwelley would mean the 49ers are passing up on Toilolo’s excellent blocking abilities, while also exposing Helm and Mayfield to waiver claims if the Niners are hoping to place either player on the practice squad.
But Dwelley should see plenty of field time during the preseason, which provides excellent chances to impress Shanahan and the coaching staff en route to landing one of those coveted spots at a crowded position.