49ers depth chart: Ranking 5 most important backups in 2021
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers know all too well why it’s important to have quality backups, and these five players enter 2021 as the team’s most crucial reserves.
It’s not the most glorious job on the NFL gridiron, but it’s certainly a vital one being a key reserve or backup player.
And for many of the San Francisco 49ers‘ second-string players in 2020, they got to see ample field time in the wake of the team suffering a slew of injuries, unlike most anything any other franchise has experienced in recent memory.
A prime example last year was reserve defensive end Kerry Hyder, now with the Seattle Seahawks, who was on the roster bubble but ended up leading the team with 8.5 sacks in the wake of EDGEs Nick Bosa and Dee Ford suffering season-ending injuries.
The Niners surely hope their depth in 2021 won’t be tested anywhere near as much as it was a year ago, but they still need to guard against injury.
Which makes these five reserve players hold crucial roles on the depth chart heading into the regular season.
No. 5: 49ers EDGE Jordan Willis
It’s weird to think a fringe player on San Francisco’s roster would be important as EDGE Jordan Willis, but the lack of outside pass-rushing depth heading into 2021 pushes him into the fray.
Bosa is expected back from his ACL tear suffered last year, but Ford’s status remains in doubt. Meanwhile, the 49ers are hoping to push defensive end Arik Armstead back into the inside where he’s had more pass-rushing success, and the recently acquired Samson Ebukam can help make up for the loss of Ford to an extent.
Still, it’s always smart to have extra pass-rushers, and that’s where Willis works into the fray.
After flaming out with the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, Willis managed to have some success with the Niners after last year’s trade, securing a career-best 2.5 sacks in San Francisco over just 18 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
At 26 years old, Willis is only now hitting the prime of his career and likely winds up being a key second-tier pass-rusher behind the likes of Bosa and Ebukam, which is an important role.
If the 49ers can keep him in a supplementary spot, it’ll be great and crucial, too. But if Bosa suffers any setback this season, having a player like Willis could pay off nicely on the cheap.