The 49ers defensive line is deep again after the team inked free-agent linemen Arden Key and Maurice Hurst, prompting questions about the roster bubble.
Earlier this week, the San Francisco 49ers reinforced their defensive line depth by plucking away two former Las Vegas Raiders defensive linemen, Arden Key and Maurice Hurst.
These two low-risk, potentially high-reward moves were smart in a number of ways. For starters, the Niners are betting a small amount on both players’ upsides, hoping Key and Hurst can turn around careers that ultimately flamed out in Las Vegas. Especially Hurst, who had 7.5 sacks his first two seasons after being selected by the Raiders in Round 5 of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Another reason these signings were smart from San Francisco’s perspective is that it allows them to free up day-three NFL Draft picks in 2021 that may otherwise have been used to bolster the D-line depth. Now, general manager John Lynch can either use those picks to address other areas of need or potentially use them as trade chips to move up in earlier rounds.
As of now, with Key and Hurst in tow, the 49ers have 16 defensive linemen on their roster. While there are going to be some additional changes likely happening between now and the start of training camp, a number of players already find themselves on the offseason roster bubble considering the sheer number of players the Niners have along their defensive front.
Who’s on the bubble now?
Typically, we break down the roster bubble into the following categories:
- Lock
- Strong bubble
- Weak bubble
- Long shot
Already, it’s possible to put some of San Francisco’s defensive linemen into each category, so let’s break down who’s who and which players find themselves on the bubble.
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.
49ers early defensive line roster bubble
It’s still unclear how the NFL will formulate rules for teams’ practice squads this season. A reversion back to the 2019 format will mean the return of ineligible players who have accrued too many seasons at the pro level to be placed here. Yet if the league is still guarding against COVID-19 and/or potential injuries suffered in the wake of an again-altered offseason program, it’s possible practice squads could once more reopen to veteran-type players. The same goes with the modified 55-man game-day rosters, too.
Either way, the bubble still stands.
49ers locks for the defensive line
- Arik Armstead
- Nick Bosa
- Samson Ebukam
- D.J. Jones
- Javon Kinlaw
No big surprises here. The 49ers already have big commitments to Armstead, Bosa and Kinlaw, while Ebukam signed his lofty two-year, $12 million free-agent contract this offseason, per Over the Cap.
Jones gets the nod based on the $1 million guaranteed in his one-year deal to return. While the 49ers could afford the dead money if he fails to make the roster, that’s a lot to dish out for a player if he was presumably on the bubble.
49ers strong-bubble defensive line players
- Maurice Hurst
- Zach Kerr
- Jordan Willis
The Niners are banking on the upsides of players like Hurst and Willis. And while the financials behind Hurst’s deal aren’t known yet, he still has a ways to go before ensuring a spot on the 53-man roster.
Kerr and Willis both signed deals where the guaranteed money is small or nonexistent — $200,000 and $0, respectively. No problem moving on there, should San Francisco want to, although all three players boast the speed factor the 49ers have seemingly been interested in redeploying after the D-line was so slow last season.
San Francisco 49ers
49ers weak-bubble defensive line players
- Alex Barrett
- Darrion Daniels
- Daeshon Hall
- Kentavius Street
Barrett managed to get himself into seven games last season, so that’s reason enough to suggest he has a chance to land one of those final depth spots in camp. The Niners, too, liked Daniels last year, although he failed to make the Week 1 cut.
It’s probably time San Francisco moves on from its fourth-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, Street.
49ers long-shot defensive line players
- Josiah Coatney
- Dee Ford
- Kevin Givens
Givens impressed in a major way in 2020, thanks to injuries to players like Jones, registering 19 tackles, three quarterback hits, a sack and a fumble recovery last year. But Givens getting himself into some alleged offseason trouble likely means he’s gone.
If anything, the 49ers’ other moves for their defensive interior suggest so anyway.
Ford is on the long-shot list simply because it’s highly doubtful he’ll be ready to go after missing all but one game with a serious back injury last year. He’ll technically be on the team but likely starts Week 1 on an injury list rather than the 53-man roster.