49ers roster: 5 players who’ll be cut by 2021 season’s end

Dontae Johnson #27 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Dontae Johnson #27 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Tom Compton, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers offensive guard Tom Compton (66) Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: 49ers Offensive Lineman Tom Compton

Maybe this selection of veteran offensive lineman Tom Compton is a bit more sided towards what San Francisco should do with its roster rather than what it likely will do. But it still carries a lot of weight.

Injuries play a role here, and the 49ers have to figure out how they’ll move forward at right tackle with Mike McGlinchey done for the year with a quad injury. Initially, Compton was No. 2 on the depth chart, but the Niners switched over to the rookie, Jaylon Moore, in Week 10 only to see him exit with a non-serious knee injury for the rest of the game, putting Compton back into McGlinchey’s stead once again.

Related Story: 4 young Niners who need more snaps over second half of 2021

Moore, who played well in McGlinchey’s absence, albeit briefly, likely returns once healthy. But that’s not the sole reason why Compton should be a San Francisco waive move.

To date, Pro Football Focus has Compton with a 53.4 overall grade this season and has allowed one sack and six pressures on 90 total snaps, which isn’t a great margin. Paired with the 49ers promoting second-year lineman Colton McKivitz from the practice squad, it makes far more sense to “let the young players play” instead of trying to give Compton added field time when he’s clearly not part of the team’s long-term plans.