49ers depth chart: 4 position battles to watch during OTAs
By Peter Panacy
49ers OTA Battle No. 2: How the defensive line depth pans out
The Niners have plenty of bodies competing for eight, perhaps nine spots along the defensive line entering 2021, and there are going to be even more opportunities to showcase some fit potential with EDGEs Nick Bosa (ACL recovery) and Dee Ford (back) still working their way back from injuries suffered last year.
Sacks during OTAs are of the mock variety, and no quarterback will actually be taken down. But there will be some one-on-one drills against offensive linemen, and the footwork techniques will still be monitored closely by defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
Some of the new faces to watch here include one of San Francisco’s big free-agent pickups, former Los Angeles Rams EDGE Samson Ebukam, along with the more recent additions of Arden Key, Maurice Hurst and Zach Kerr. Battling it out with returnees like D.J. Jones, Alex Barrett, Kentavius Street and Jordan Willis should make for some intriguing storylines to watch as the 49ers look to feature the best possible options to support the starting cast.
The Niners’ D-line depth was tested to the extreme last year, and this offseason’s moves suggest Kocurek and Kyle Shanahan weren’t totally happy with the options they had available in 2020.
Those players standing out for the right reasons likely play a much more important role higher up the depth chart once training camp comes around.