49ers roster: Early bubble watch after adding Arden Key, Maurice Hurst
By Peter Panacy
49ers defensive linemen currently on the offseason roster
In 2019, the 49ers’ defensive line strength was a primary reason why then-coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense was so stout in the team’s run up to the Super Bowl.
While there are still some notable question marks heading into 2021, it’s pretty apparent the Niners intend to get this unit deep again while hoping to avoid the sheer number of injuries suffered by this unit a season ago.
As of now, those 16 players include the following names:
- Arik Armstead
- Alex Barrett
- Nick Bosa
- Josiah Coatney
- Darrion Daniels
- Samson Ebukam
- Dee Ford
- Kevin Givens
- Daeshon Hall
- Maurice Hurst
- D.J. Jones
- Zach Kerr
- Arden Key
- Javon Kinlaw
- Kentavius Street
- Jordan Willis
Both Bosa and Ford are looking to return from serious injuries suffered early in 2020, so the need for depth was already apparent before San Francisco signed both Hurst and Key.
Plus, after losing linemen Solomon Thomas and Kerry Hyder to free agency this offseason, finding bodies to plug the gaps while hopefully upgrading the depth was high upon John Lynch’s to-do list.
Yet teams typically carry between eight and nine defensive linemen on their 53-man rosters, meaning there are going to be a lot of players jockeying for reserve and backup roles in training camp and whatever might amount to a preseason.
Let’s dive into the bubble watch for this unit.