Niner Noise
FanSided

Early 49ers roster bubble watch after 2020 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a one-yard catch against the Denver Broncos during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a one-yard catch against the Denver Broncos during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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Trent Williams. Redskins, 49ers
Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins blocks against the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Niner Noise goes through the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason roster and makes early predictions who’s on the bubble and who’s safe following the 2020 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers brought home five prospects from the 2020 NFL Draft, followed by a plethora of undrafted free agents to bulk up their offseason roster in advance of programs leading up to Week 1.

One transaction, the in-draft trade for former Washington Redskins Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams, accounts for the loss of veteran left tackle Joe Staley.

Yet other moves and selections ultimately put incumbent veteran players in danger of missing out on a roster spot. In addition, some of the Niners’ pre-draft moves in NFL free agency could be rendered not necessary, as the team ultimately elects to go with the best players possible at each position down the roster.

That’s the nature for each team during the offseason leading up to pre-Week 1 roster cuts.

There’s a lot to be determined between now and the start of the regular season, of course. Training camp, preseason games and other roster transactions between now and then will shift the overall makeup of the roster, further changing the outlook for a number of other players who otherwise might have been seen as safe.

It’s still early. But Niner Noise takes a look at San Francisco’s roster right now, breaking down the bubble watch heading towards offseason programs.

As usual, we’ll divvy this up into four different categories:

  • Lock: barring injury, they’ll be on the roster come Week 1
  • Strong bubble: looking good, but a decent chance of being cut/waived
  • Weak bubble: there’s a fighting chance, but it’s an uphill fight
  • Long shot: a lot will have to go right for the player to have the slimmest chance

Each year, it seems a few players on the stronger side of the bubble don’t make the cut, while weak bubbles and long shots occasionally turn enough heads to earn one of those final spots.

Let’s take a look, position by position, where each player stands right now.