Predicting 49ers 53-man roster just before final roster cuts

Defensive Line (9): DeForest Buckner*, Nick Bosa*, Dee Ford*, Solomon Thomas*, Arik Armstead*, D.J. Jones*, Damontre Moore*, Ronald Blair III, Kevin Givens

After the offense and the specialists, the roster is already up to 29 players (26 of whom are active), leaving just 24 slots to fill out the rest of the roster.

As has been noted throughout the preseason, the defensive line is probably the team’s best and deepest position group, a fact that is reflected in the number of guys who will make this roster. The 49ers hope to create depth across the line, something which this particular make up of guys will allow them to do.

There aren’t a lot of surprises here, with veteran incumbents DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead and D.J. Jones all returning from good to great seasons in 2018. Rookie edge rusher Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and newly signed Dee Ford will seek to wreck havoc on the edge.

The big surprise is camp and preseason superstar Damontre Moore, who can spell both Bosa and Ford, who has established himself as a major contender for a slot with his play throughout the practice contests. He should certainly supplant fourth-year pro Ronald Blair III for at least playing time, but, if the numbers don’t work out, could also be the reason that Blair misses the roster altogether.

Rookie undrafted free-agent defensive tackle Kevin Givens might be here to ensure he doesn’t get swooped up elsewhere, as his services would probably make more sense on the practice squad. But he’s played well enough this preseason to see to it that fellow defensive tackle Sheldon Day is on the outside looking in, even if Givens doesn’t see a lot of playing time out of the gate.