10 things for which 49ers fans can be thankful at 2019 Thanksgiving
By Peter Panacy
No. 7: 49ers Finding Undrafted Gems
Typically, undrafted free agents are players who wind up rounding out teams’ offseason 90-man rosters throughout training camp and into the preseason. A handful of them sometimes wind up on practice squads, while the lucky ones find themselves on regular-season 53-man rosters, although usually on the weekly inactive lists.
Not so for a number of key Niners undrafted players, who are now key components of the roster.
The best-case example, of course, is running back Matt Breida, who has twice now been recorded as the league’s fastest player, back in 2018 and again in 2019, according to NextGen Stats.
Breida has emerged as one of San Francisco’s most prolific offensive weapons the past two seasons. And last year, quarterback Nick Mullens seemingly came out of nowhere to at least put some respectability under center after Jimmy Garoppolo suffered his ACL tear. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has been a solid reserve option, too.
Then, of course, there’s cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who was shoved into prominence following starting corner Ahkello Witherspoon‘s foot sprain earlier this season.
Moseley has earned himself a solid 76.0 overall grade this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and Witherspoon’s return wasn’t enough on its own to unseat Moseley as a starter.
Oh, and it’s impossible to overlook tight end Ross Dwelley, who has filled in for the starter, George Kittle when he was injured, as well as fullback Kyle Juszczyk, when he was dealing with a knee injury.
Safe to say, the 49ers have a knack for developing unheralded talent.