49ers roster: Predicting who makes the 2021 cut on defensive line
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers defensive line is deep heading into 2021 training camp but has a lot of question marks. Let’s predict who winds up making the 53-man cut.
In an ideal world, the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2021 defensive line would emulate the kind of success it had over the bulk of the team’s Super Bowl run in 2019.
Yet the Niners are already facing some notable challenges with their D-line heading into the upcoming season. For starters, Pro Bowl EDGE Nick Bosa is coming off a nearly year-long absence last year because of a torn ACL. And while his presence is expected to provide a massive boost to a team that dropped from 48 sacks in 2019 to just 30 last season, it might be prudent to temper expectations from the prolific pass-rusher until he shows he’s fully recovered.
Meanwhile, fellow EDGE Dee Ford remains a big question mark as he recovers from a serious back injury suffered last season, and there’s still a chance he won’t play at all in 2021.
Tack on worries about the remaining pass-rushing depth, and one can see how San Francisco isn’t quite on par with what it enjoyed two years ago.
With training camp just around the corner, and a number of potential suitors for one of the many presumed depth spots on the 53-man roster, the D-line position battles are going to be a key storyline between now and Week 1.
Bosa figures to be a massive part of the equation, as do defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw.
Getting into the remaining players, however, raises plenty of questions heading into 2021.
And with questions come predictions, so let’s predict who makes the cut and why.