49ers roster: 5 players who would be shocking adds in 2021

The 49ers’ regular-season roster appears to be set heading into 2021, but these five long-shot players could shake things up if they survive roster cuts.

For the most part, it’s not too difficult to go through the San Francisco 49ers‘ 90-man offseason roster and identify approximately three-fourths of the eventual 53-man roster.

There might be some leeway with a handful of starting positions, and there are always a few shake-ups as far as the reserves are concerned. But for the most part, you’d probably be able to guess the vast majority of players who eventually survive roster cuts ahead of Week 1.

Except for the fact that each and every year, there are usually one or two roster adds who seemingly come out of nowhere.

These dark-horse additions are usually nice stories, perhaps an undrafted free agent who impressed during the final preseason game or something along those lines.

While shocking, these possible five unlikely adds could somehow manage to squeak onto the Niners’ regular-season roster when Week 1 rolls around.

No. 5: 49ers Cornerback Tim Harris Jr.

Maybe 2021 is the year when San Francisco’s final pick from the 2019 NFL Draft, cornerback Tim Harris Jr., finally makes a serious impact at the pro level.

After redshirting his rookie season, Harris got into two games last year and saw all his snaps solely on special teams, which doesn’t make him a favored candidate to earn too much time on the defensive side of the ball.

But there is a need.

The 49ers have their trio of starting cornerbacks: Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams and Emmanuel Moseley. The journeyman veteran, Dontae Johnson, is likely the No. 4 option on the depth chart, while the two rookie draftees, Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, probably round out the six named to the 53-man roster.

If someone like Lenoir struggles in training camp, though, Harris could be the next player up.

Even if he’d likely be no more than the No. 6 choice on a six-man cornerbacking depth chart.