With the 2022 NFL Draft now complete, Niner Noise looks through the 49ers’ presumed offseason roster and sees who’s on the bubble and who’s safe.
Right now, the San Francisco 49ers are poised to have 91 players on their offseason roster.
That’s one more than the allocated amount of allowed players. But with the Niners’ 2022 NFL Draft class yet to sign their rookie contracts, there’s still time for general manager John Lynch to make some final tweaks before the team begins its offseason programs later this month.
For the recap, San Francisco selected a total of nine players via the 2022 draft, including six players between Rounds 4 through 7. Additionally, it agreed to terms with 14 undrafted free agents, some of whom were projected as mid-round picks but managed to slip through the cracks beyond the 49ers’ final “Mr. Irrelevant” selection at No. 262 overall, Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy.
Purdy is an interesting case to be sure, landing squarely on the roster bubble right away amid what could be a position seeing some notable shakeups between now and Week 1.
There are a lot of elements yet to be determined here, but it’s worth taking an early stab at which players are safe bets for the 53-man roster to open the regular season and which ones are on the bubble.
To do this, we’ll look at each player and assign them to one of the four categories:
- Lock: He’ll be there Week 1 (barring injury)
- Strong bubble: Not guaranteed, but looking good
- Weak bubble: A lot will have to go his way
- Long shot: Face it, he’s a camp body
Let’s break this down, position by position, and analyze the Niners’ early roster bubble with the 2022 NFL Draft now complete.
49ers Special Teams
Lock: Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
Strong Bubble: None
Weak Bubble: None
Long Shot: None
There’ll be little drama and next-to-no speculation about San Francisco’s situation on special teams this offseason.
The 49ers didn’t bring in any specialists to beef up or change out the battery of kicker Robbie Gould, punter Mitch Wishnowsky or long-snapper Taybor Pepper via the draft or afterwards, meaning all signs are pointing to this trio returning to the field once again.
Special teams does have some question marks, though, especially after Football Outsiders ranked it 26th in the league last season, prompting the switch of defensive coordinators, Richard Hightower to Brian Schneider, and the infusion of new special teams aces like safety George Odum, linebacker Oren Burks and wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud via free agency.
However, given the latter three (and others) are listed at their other respective positions, we’ll include and analyze them there instead of here.
49ers Secondary
Lock: Emmanuel Moseley, Charvarius Ward, George Odum, Jimmie Ward, Talanoa Hufanga
Strong Bubble: Ambry Thomas, Jason Verrett, Tarvarius Moore, Samuel Womack*
Weak Bubble: Darqueze Dennard, Dontae Johnson, Deommodore Lenoir, Tariq Castro-Fields*, Leon O’Neal Jr.*
Long Shot: Ka’dar Hollman, Tayler Hawkins*, Qwuantrezz Knight*
* denotes rookie
Once considered a massive weakness earlier this offseason, the Niners spent considerable effort reinforcing their secondary with plenty of new faces, highlighted by the free-agent pickup of former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward.
He won’t go anywhere, and neither will another free-agent pickup, George Odum, returning with fellow defensive backs Jimmie Ward and Talanoa Hufanga.
San Francisco brought oft-injured cornerback Jason Verrett back, too, meaning he’ll be slated for starting duty, provided he’s 100-percent healthy after suffering an ACL tear in Week 1 last season.
What that means for the two 2021 rookie corners, Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, is unclear. And the 2022 additions of defensive backs Samuel Womack, Tariq Castro-Fields and Leon O’Neal, among others, will only serve to make the competition a little stiffer.
The 49ers still have a noticeable question mark at strong safety, too, with Jaquiski Tartt still unsigned.
49ers Linebackers
Lock: Azeez Al-Shaair, Oren Burks, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner
Strong Bubble: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Weak Bubble: Curtis Robinson
Long Shot: Jeremiah Gemmel*, Marcelino McCrary-Ball*, Segun Olubi*
There aren’t too many shakeups at linebacker following the NFL Draft, and the usual cast of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair appear to be poised to start base formations on defense entering 2022, while special teams aces Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles likely serve as depth.
After that, though, it’s a wide-open competition.
Curtis Robinson might be spared a spot on the long-shot chart based on his previous NFL experience alone, although the exact contractual details on the three undrafted free agents — Jeremiah Gemmel, Marcelino McCrary-Ball and Segun Olubi — aren’t quite known yet.
Assuming all three carry little-to-no guaranteed money, they’ll likely be camp bodies this offseason with the chance of landing on the practice squad in 2022.
49ers Defensive Line
Lock: Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, Kemoko Turay, Hassan Ridgeway, Drake Jackson*
Strong Bubble: Samson Ebukam, Kevin Givens, Maurice Hurst, Kerry Hyder Jr., Charles Omenihu, Jordan Willis
Weak Bubble: Alex Barrett, Kalia Davis*
Long Shot: Dee Ford, Kevin Atkins*
If there’s one thing we know about the Niners’ modus operandi, it’s they’ll use premium draft picks to reinforce the trenches, doing so again in 2022 by grabbing former USC EDGE Drake Jackson.
San Francisco will need a complementary outside pass-rusher to pair with Nick Bosa, especially with the seemingly inevitable farewell bidding for EDGE Dee Ford, who’s poised to be a post-June 1 cut amid three injury-plagued seasons.
However, it’s not too hard to see just how tight a competition this group will have this offseason, if for no other reason than the sheer number of bodies present.
EDGE Samson Ebukam could be a cap casualty, too, particularly in the wake of the free-agent pickup of former Indianapolis Colts pass-rusher Kemoko Turay. Both Turay and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway both carry $1 million apiece in guaranteed money, so they appear to be locks, while nose tackles Kevin Givens, Maurice Hurst and the sixth-round draftee, UCF’s Kalia Davis, can hopefully alleviate the free-agent loss of D.J. Jones.
Davis, coming off a torn ACL suffered last season, might not be 100 percent by training camp, though, landing on the weaker side of the bubble for now. Consider him a candidate for the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
49ers Offensive Line
Lock: Aaron Banks, Daniel Brunskill, Alex Mack, Mike McGlinchey, Trent Williams, Spencer Burford*,
Strong Bubble: Jake Brendel, Jaylon Moore, Jason Poe*, Dohnovan West*, Nick Zakelj*
Weak Bubble: Colton McKivitz, Justin Skule
Long Shot: Alfredo Gutierrez, Keaton Sutherland, Sam Schlueter*
Again, part of that 49ers modus operandi and using draft capital to reinforce the offensive line.
Not like it was without question marks, though, especially with Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson departing in free agency and opening up the door for last year’s second-round pick, Aaron Banks, to finally get his shot in a premier role.
There are concerns at center, too, with Pro Bowler Alex Mack reportedly still mulling retirement, and the Niners inking former Arizona State center Dohnovan West as a UDFA (it’s important to note West was largely tabbed as an early day-three draft pick) could potentially signal a transition from Mack sooner than later.
Read More: 49ers won UDFA rush by signing Dohnovan West
If Mack doesn’t retire, though, he’s a lock. But West should be right up there on the stronger side of the bubble, too.
West and fellow UDFA Jason Poe, along with rookies Spencer Burford and Nick Zakelj, all create what should be some spicy competition for San Francisco’s O-line depth during training camp.
Ideally, the 49ers would dress eight linemen on game day, meaning at least one of those rookies won’t make the 53-man cut, but it’s hard to predict which one, especially considering how high-profile Poe and West were despite going undrafted.
At least it’s a good problem to have.
49ers Tight Ends
Lock: Ross Dwelley, George Kittle
Strong Bubble: Charlie Woerner
Weak Bubble: Tanner Hudson, Jordan Matthews
Long Shot: Garrett Walston*
The Niners didn’t throw any resources in what was considered to be a weak NFL Draft class this offseason, although they did bring in former North Carolina tight end Garrett Walston as an undrafted free agent.
He’ll essentially round out the back end of the depth chart, though, and little more should be expected of him.
Instead, the primary battle to watch here will be which player winds up securing the No. 3 tight end role behind Ross Dwelley and the All-Pro, George Kittle, who are all but assured the top two spots here anyway.
Unless San Francisco elects to keep four tight ends on its 53-man roster (it’s done so in the past), third-year pro Charlie Woerner likely gets the final nod because of his solid run-blocking skills, leaving Tanner Hudson and Jordan Matthews to fend for the scraps via a practice squad designation.
49ers Wide Receivers
Lock: Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, Deebo Samuel
Strong Bubble: Marcus Johnson, Malik Turner, Danny Gray*
Weak Bubble: KeeSean Johnson, Austin Mack
Long Shot: Connor Wedington, Taysir Mack*, Tay Martin*
Not unlike the offensive and defensive lines, there’s going to be some intriguing competition for one of arguably two spots at wide receiver this season.
Ray-Ray McCloud, as noted earlier, was brought in to spark what’s otherwise been a lackluster return game, and his notable free-agent contract keeps him safe. And, judging by the look of things, the 49ers’ tenuous relationship with All-Pro wideout Deebo Samuel appears to be on the mend.
Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings all offer different elements to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, while the Niners’ third-round rookie, Danny Gray, finally adds that vertical speed-threat dimension Shanahan has been lacking.
Meshed with quarterback Trey Lance’s strong arm, perhaps this is the most complete we’ve seen San Francisco’s wide receiver room since Shanahan took over in 2017.
That’ll leave the remaining options in a relatively precarious situation, though, as both special teams wideouts Marcus Johnson and Malik Turner will have an easier path to the 53-man roster than UDFAs like Taysir Mack and Tay Martin, but the two veterans are anything but guaranteed roster spots.
Again, however, this is a good problem for the 49ers to have. Especially if Gray pans out.
49ers Running Backs
Lock: Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Elijah Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price*
Strong Bubble: Trey Sermon, Jeff Wilson Jr.
Weak Bubble: JaMycal Hasty
Long Shot: Josh Hokit (FB), Jordan Mason*
The Niners rightfully took some flak for using their first of two third-round picks on a running back, LSU’s Tyrion Davis-Price, whom many felt wouldn’t be much more than a Round 5 target, and San Francisco surely had other more-pressing needs anyway at that particular spot in the draft.
Davis-Price’s addition, though, shakes up what’s still a questionable depth chart behind second-year man Elijah Mitchell, who nevertheless rushed for 963 yards despite missing six games his rookie year, setting a franchise record for a rookie.
Mitchell’s health is a concern, so perhaps grabbing Davis-Price makes some sense, and it also puts the futures of depth tailbacks like JaMycal Hasty, Jeff Wilson Jr. and second-year pro Trey Sermon into some doubt.
Read More: Are Niners pushing Trey Sermon off the roster with Tyrion Davis-Price?
Yes, including Sermon, the 49ers’ 2021 third-round experiment that hasn’t panned out yet.
However, it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to see the Niners carry five halfbacks on the 53-man roster to help guard against injury, especially in what’s still going to be a run-first offense.
UDFA Jordan Mason might peg himself as a preseason feature only, which is fine, and it sure does stink to be Josh Hokit, Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk’s perennial practice squad backup fullback.
49ers Quarterbacks
Lock: Trey Lance
Strong Bubble: Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Sudfeld
Weak Bubble: Brock Purdy*
Long Shot: None
With each passing day quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains untraded, the chances of him hanging around on San Francisco’s 53-man roster increases.
Granted, the 49ers would still like to trade him this offseason, now likely waiting until another team’s starter suffers a serious injury or completely flames out by Week 1. But all indications to date signal the Niners aren’t simply going to trade Garoppolo for next to nothing, nor are they inclined to release him outright.
Don’t let this fool you, though. Should Garoppolo stay, he’d have to take both a reduced role in favor of Trey Lance, while also having to accept a drastically reduced pay from the scheduled earnings of $27 million this season.
Otherwise, San Francisco’s current salary cap situation wouldn’t afford it the ability to sign its own rookie draft class.
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Presumed No. 3 quarterback Nate Sudfeld also carries a fully guaranteed $2 million deal this season, so the chances of him going anywhere are slim.
Things do get interesting with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, former Iowa State signal-caller, Brock Purdy, forever now called “Mr. Irrelevant.”
The ony way Purdy makes the 53-man roster is if two things happen (and they’d both have to happen): Garoppolo is moved before Week 1, and the rookie shows enough during camp and the preseason to justify using a roster spot on him.
Both are possible, yes. Just not wholly likely. If anything, Purdy is yet another late-round pick poised to begin his NFL career on the practice squad.