49ers news: 4 players who could switch jersey numbers

No. 3: 49ers quarterback Josh Johnson

He might not even make the 53-man roster, but look for quarterback Josh Johnson to ditch his No. 1 jersey in favor of something else.

Perhaps the No. 8 he wore at San Diego when he was in college, which is the number he’s predominantly worn throughout the bulk of his NFL career. If it weren’t for Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young’s No. 8 being retired by the 49ers, it’s likely Johnson would be donning that in San Francisco, too.

Normally, no one would care about Johnson’s number. Certainly not anyone within the fanbase.

Yet there’s a reason both Johnson and Deebo Samuel may be denied access to No. 1 on the jersey roster.

Let’s go ahead and assume the Niners make Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields their top selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fields, who is one of three quarterbacks linked to San Francisco’s first pick on April 29, also wore No. 1 during his two-year tenure with the Buckeyes and also during his lone season in 2018 at Georgia.

A first-round pick, as well as it being his collegiate jersey number makes the idea of Johnson giving Fields the No. 1 uniform number all but guaranteed, provided the 49ers take Fields, of course.