5 bold predictions for 49ers 2020 NFL Draft class
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: DeMarkus Acy, JaMycal Hasty Make 49ers’ 53-Man Roster
Undrafted free agents always have a tougher road to crack a regular-season roster, and most are often pegged to round out the practice squad or at least provide some training camp competition.
In the case of undrafted running back JaMycal Hasty and cornerback DeMarkus Acy, however, both players could end up contributing in a notable way in 2020.
Hasty is a player to watch during training camp, and he could be the next in line to assume the kind of upstart like former 49ers running back Matt Breida, another UDFA, was back during his rookie year in 2017.
Granted, the Niners running back room is crowded, which will hinder Hasty’s chances. But the former Baylor tailback’s cutback ability, speed and vision might be too good for head coach Kyle Shanahan to pass up. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Shanahan putting Hasty into a niche role, possibly even pushing one of the veterans on San Francisco’s roster off the depth chart altogether.
If so, Hasty will be fun to watch.
Acy, meanwhile, doesn’t have as much competition as the 49ers didn’t bring aboard any cornerbacks in the NFL Draft. Corners Richard Sherman, Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon are all far ahead of Acy on the depth chart now, yes. But the depth behind those veterans isn’t particularly great, opening up the door for the 6-foot-2 defensive back to not only make the roster, but possibly even contribute in a significant way this season.