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49ers: Top 5 mistakes Lynch and Shanahan made during 2019 roster cuts

By Chris Wilson

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals strips the ball from C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals strips the ball from C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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49ers roster cuts 2019 top mistakes
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 29: Derrick Gore #37 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled by Damontre Moore #92 of the San Francisco 49ers during the preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Releasing DL Damontre Moore

Defensive lineman Damontre Moore was the No. 1 victim of Shanahan and Lynch’s roster mistakes and positional luxury picks. But don’t feel bad for Moore — the real victims were the offensive linemen who were forced to face off against Moore during the preseason.

Moore was easily the 49ers’ best defensive lineman during the team’s four preseason games, earning a defensive grade of 89.4 from PFF. For perspective, PFF’s highest-graded edge rusher during the 2018 regular season was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Calais Campbell, who finished the season with a defensive grade of 91.1.

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Of course, Moore wouldn’t be facing backup offensive lineman in the regular season — nor should he be, even in the preseason. At times, it seemed as if Moore didn’t belong on the field; he often looked like a high school star playing for his school’s junior varsity squad.

Moore finished the preseason with a league-leading 17 quarterback pressures, ranked second with eight quarterback hurries and ninth with three sacks. Moore did everything the 49ers asked of him, but it apparently wasn’t enough to make the team’s final roster.

When final cuts were made, Moore lost the numbers game, although it was a game that was impossible for him to win. Despite being the third-best pass-rusher on the team and a player who would be used on a weekly basis during the regular season, San Francisco elected to retain players who will be inactive on game-days — which is a perfect segue to the biggest mistake Lynch and Shanahan made during 2019 roster cuts: