No. 3: 49ers Defensive Lineman Jonathan Kongbo
Teams can never have too many pass-rushers.
And while the Niners are awfully deep here despite losing Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner during the offseason, stockpiling on some cheap situational rushers is never a bad idea. San Francisco did this during the offseason by inking former Dallas Cowboys EDGE Kerry Hyder to a one-year deal while also bringing aboard former CFL standout defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo.
Kongbo, who played his college ball at the University of Tennessee, is awfully raw and will need some serious refinement if he hopes to make the cut at the pro level. But the intangibles for a serious threat are there. At 6-foot-5 and 254 pounds, Kongbo presents an intimidating force. If he can hone his pass-rushing technique a bit more during training camp, he could be a notable player to watch.
It’s necessary because the 49ers have some depth questions within their pass rush. Defensive linemen Ronald Blair, Kentavius Street and Jullian Taylor are all coming off season-ending injuries suffered a year ago, and neither Street nor Taylor have exactly proven themselves at the NFL level.
That compiled situation could open up the door for a player like Kongbo to see some time early on a regular-season roster.