San Francisco 49ers: 5 potentially shocking 2021 roster cuts
Take a look at some 49ers players we believe can come as surprise cuts this summer following some strong additions in the 2021 NFL Draft.
In the coming months, a number of players across the league will surprisingly be cut from their respective teams, and the San Francisco 49ers will be no different, as there is a chance some of the following players will be surprisingly let go by the Niners front office.
While I don’t think all of them will be let go, I wouldn’t be shocked to see head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch cut ties with some of the following players before Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season.
Some are because of lackluster performances in recent years, while others may just fall victim to the numbers game.
Here are five who’d potentially fall into the shocking-cut category.
No. 5: 49ers WR Jalen Hurd
Most fans don’t even know what 2019 third-round draft pick Jalen Hurd looks like due to an abundance of injuries that have kept him out of the lineup over the course of his first two NFL seasons.
While it isn’t his fault by any means, it may be the “nail in the coffin” for his spot on the Niners roster if he were to get hurt one more time or if he experiences any setbacks throughout the course of the offseason.
I have to admit, I was wary of the pick when Shanahan made it in the 2019 draft, as I felt there were a number of players more deserving of an early third-round selection (i.e. Washington Football Team’s Terry McLaurin) and found that Hurd, while talented, was a little more of a developmental player than an instant impact-maker.
Though I was proved wrong as Hurd, through training camp and the preseason his rookie year, looked like he would be a dominant force within the offensive scheme for years to come. But now, it’s two years later, and we have yet to see any return on the investment the Niners made in Hurd.
Hurd has an extremely high chance of proving he can be a consistent contributor to this team, but this depends entirely on his ability to stay healthy. If he experiences any form of injury that would keep him from playing for an extended period of time, I would have to imagine the front office cuts ties with him.
I hope this isn’t the case, as I am absolutely rooting for Hurd to prove to everyone just how dangerous of a playmaker he can be.