49ers roster: 3 thinnest positions entering 2021 season

49ers Thin Position No. 1: Edge Rusher

It was a bit questionable why San Francisco elected not to onboard an outside pass-rusher during the NFL Draft. Perhaps it was because so many of this year’s rookie rushers had major question marks and weren’t bona fide studs like EDGE Nick Bosa, who’ll look to bounce back in 2021 after suffering an ACL tear early last season.

True, the 49ers inked free-agent pass-rusher Samson Ebukam during the offseason, and he’ll help support Bosa while alleviating what’ll likely be another lengthy absence of fellow EDGE Dee Ford, whose return to the 53-man roster is questionable at best because of a serious back injury suffered a year ago.

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After that, the depth is almost unnoticeable.

This wasn’t aided by the fact the Niners will lose reserve EDGE Jordan Willis six games for a PED violation.

Perhaps reserve pass-rushers like Daeshon Hall or the offseason free-agent pickup, Arden Key, wind up filling a key void and show off to a great deal for San Francisco this season. Yet it’s just as likely both players fail to make the 53-man roster, too.

If there’s one thing known here, Bosa will have to shoulder a big load, while the 49ers hope Ebukam can provide a massive boost over the 4.5 sacks he managed in each of the last two years with the Los Angeles Rams.