If the 49ers bring in nine players in the 2022 NFL Draft, it’ll ultimately mean nine others will have to go by Week 1, and these five are in danger of losing their jobs.
Any NFL roster is prone to serious turnover over the course of an offseason. And even if a roster is of the playoff-contending variety, such as that of the San Francisco 49ers, there is still no shortage of back-end players who already find themselves on the bubble before a team’s actions in the NFL Draft.
Right now, the Niners own nine picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. They’re without a first-round selection, thanks to last year’s trade-up for quarterback Trey Lance, and they won’t be picking until No. 61 overall all the way towards the end of Round 2, barring any crazy shakeups between now and when that selection is finally made.
This is potentially good news for players on the fringes of the roster, as mid- and late-round picks don’t come with as much instant expectation for being starters right out of the gate.
Still, depending on what prospects general manager John Lynch and Co. pick up between Rounds 2 and 7, these five bubble-watch San Francisco players could easily find themselves bumped off the regular-season roster by younger, potentially more-promising rookies.
No. 5: 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore
2021 was a lost season for defensive back Tarvarius Moore after he suffered a torn Achilles during organized team activities and ultimately spent the entire year on injured reserve.
While having shown flashes of brilliance from time to time ever since being a third-round selection in the 2018 draft, Moore has nevertheless failed to capture a true starting job and has largely been relegated to backup duties, big-nickel packages and special teams play ever since.
The void left by veteran strong safety Jaquiski Tartt’s free-agent departure is better news for Moore, who now looks at fellow defensive backs Talanoa Hufanga and George Odum as primary competitors for the starting bid.
But if the 49ers continue to stockpile defensive backs in the draft, particularly early, Moore figures to be the odd man out when the regular-season depth chart pans out.
No. 4: 49ers running back JaMycal Hasty
Third-year running back JaMycal Hasty is a player you’d want to root for. An undrafted free-agent signing by the Niners out of Baylor entering 2020, Hasty hasn’t emerged as much of anything beyond a gadget player during his two years at the pro level, boasting just 85 total touches for 406 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns over that span.
Things looked better for Hasty when San Francisco opted not to re-sign veteran running back Raheem Mostert this offseason, Mostert leaving for the Miami Dolphins instead, but the depth chart got crowded once again when the 49ers re-signed fellow depth tailback Jeff Wilson Jr., leaving Hasty to contend with him, Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon for the pecking order.
With five halfbacks under contract, the other being seldom heard-of Brian Hill, the Niners’ tendency to land another late-round running back could easily push Hasty down the depth chart even further.
Perhaps off of it altogether, as San Francisco might look to get someone with a bit more prowess and potency compared to Hasty.
No. 4 running backs aren’t exactly must-keep priorities.
No. 3: 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings
Even though he had only 24 catches for 282 yards last season, it sure seemed as if each one of wide receiver Jauan Jennings’ touches over the course of 2021 was massive. And his five touchdowns during the regular season epitomized just how much he contributed to the 49ers offense despite not being a high-volume target.
The 6-foot-3, 212-pound wideout also offered up plenty of physicality in the blocking department, too, and that should help his standing behind likely locked-in-as-starters, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
However, as has seemingly been the case with every wide receiver NFL Draft class over the last few years, the options available from day one through day three offer up plenty of enticing choices.
Many of which boast Jennings’ size and physicality but also blend in much better speed, which could possibly push the third-year pro back onto the periphery of the 53-man roster.
Wide receiver might not be atop head coach Kyle Shanahan’s wish list early in the draft, but it sure seems as if he’ll be interested in grabbing at least one option from this year’s class.
If that prospect shows promise, Jennings could be bumped awfully far down the depth chart in response.
No. 2: 49ers offensive lineman Colton McKivitz
Already, there are plenty of signs the Niners aren’t too high on third-year offensive lineman Colton McKivitz, as he failed to make the initial 53-man roster out of the preseason in 2021 and was only subsequently brought back up off the practice squad once right tackle Mike McGlinchey suffered a season-ending quad injury.
McGlinchey’s status is surely something to monitor this offseason, as are the potential moves San Francisco might make to reinforce its O-line via the draft.
Some of these moves could be on the inside of the formation, yes, but that also impacts McKivitz. Right now, and even despite the 49ers bidding farewell to veteran lineman Tom Compton to free agency, McKivitz is locked in a depth-chart battle with fellow depth linemen like Justin Skule and second-year pro Jaylon Moore.
Moore, who had some promising moments during training camp and in the preseason a year ago, probably has a bit more leeway over McKivitz right now.
And if the Niners wind up adding one or even two more linemen via the draft, McKivitz will probably end up being the victim of a numbers game he stands little chance at winning.
No. 1: 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas
Stress this point: Cornerback Ambry Thomas will stay on San Francisco’s roster in 2022. No questioning that, especially after the third-round pick out of Michigan steadily improved after being forced into a starter’s role late during the regular season a year ago.
However, this isn’t to say Thomas is a fully polished product. At best, he’s third on the depth chart behind fellow cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and the 49ers’ top-end free-agent pickup from the offseason, Charvarius Ward, who almost automatically assumes the No. 1 spot at the position.
It’s surely possible all three wind up playing together in sub packages, considering the Niners said goodbye to nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams, who left for the Denver Broncos.
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Yet there’s equally as good a chance San Francisco isn’t done trying to infuse more talent into its cornerback room this offseason, and any early drafting of a defensive back who can play on either the boundary or at nickel would likely mean Thomas’ chances for becoming a starter are greatly diminished.
Again, this isn’t a massive risk to Thomas’ hopes of making the regular-season roster. Only a year into his cheap rookie contract, Thomas will be there unless he wholly flames out between now and Week 1.
His role, however, remains very much up in the air.