While it was only two days, 49ers mandatory minicamp revealed some clear winners and losers, but these four didn’t exactly impress.
For every win on the practice field, there has to be a corresponding loss. And stringing together a number of losses in a row isn’t exactly the best-case scenario for players gunning for roles and roster spots heading towards the regular season.
The San Francisco 49ers just wrapped up two days’ worth of mandatory minicamp, cutting short the third and final day and likely ending their offseason workouts until training camp kicks off later this summer.
And while these practices are both padless and lack physical contact, thereby not telling the full competitive story, they are important in helping determine the pecking order on the depth chart head coach Kyle Shanahan will want to implement.
Niner Noise already explored some players who performed notably well during minicamp, but it’s worth flipping the script and seeing who didn’t exactly impress much.
Here are four whose roster stock levels fell during mandatory minicamp.
No. 4: 49ers quarterback Nate Sudfeld
All eyes have been on second-year quarterback Trey Lance during offseason workouts, as Jimmy Garoppolo‘s absence because of offseason shoulder surgery and a likely trade between now and Week 1 has afforded Lance all the first-team reps.
The Niners’ depth behind Lance, however, might be a big question mark with Nate Sudfeld and seventh-round rookie draft pick Brock Purdy battling out for the QB2 role in 2022.
Sudfeld, in particular, didn’t impress Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, who cited the backup as one of the poorer performers from day two of practice:
"[Sudfeld] overthrew a deep pass to Ray-Ray McCloud who was open running a post route — call this miss a Garoppolo Special. Then near the end of the practice, Sudfeld pulled another Jimmy G by rolling right and throwing a pick to a linebacker standing literally right in front of him. Now we see why zero teams signed Sudfeld last year when he was on the 49ers practice squad. I still don’t understand why the 49ers like him."
Now, there have been some contradictory reports saying Sudfeld was OK, but the offsetting analysis does suggest Sudfeld hasn’t separated himself as the bona fide QB2 over Purdy just yet.
San Francisco better hope Lance stays healthy for all of 2022.
No. 3: 49ers wide receiver Danny Gray
One of the 49ers’ wide receivers who has made the most of mandatory minicamp is the veteran free-agent pickup from this offseason, Ray-Ray McCloud, who was touted on Grant Cohn’s analysis of Nate Sudfeld but also made some exemplary catches while getting behind the Niners secondary on a regular basis.
That deep speed is something of note, and it was an element intended for one of San Francisco’s top-drafted rookies from last April, former SMU wide receiver Danny Gray, whose 4.33 40-yard speed was supposed to take the top off opposing defenses.
Gray, however, didn’t partake in the two-day minicamp practices after apparently suffering a hamstring injury during the final week of organized team activities.
On one hand, Gray was one of the 49ers’ standouts from rookie minicamp earlier this offseason, but first-year players need these early practice sessions in a big way, both to acclimate to life at the pro level and to learn Kyle Shanahan’s intricate offense.
While the top portion of the Niners’ wide receiving depth chart is all but locked in, the back end remains fluid. And, yes, Gray being a third-round draft pick will almost entirely assure he makes the 53-man roster, but his projected role and impact in year one could take a hit in the wake of this injury.
No. 2: 49ers safety Leon O’Neal Jr.
It might be a bit unfair to list an undrafted free-agent rookie as one of those who didn’t necessarily improve his stock value, as he somewhat did by intercepting Trey Lance during full-team drills.
But that might be the lone flashy moment from former Texas A&M safety Leon O’Neal Jr. during the two-day practice window.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan broke down how O’Neal was made to look bad by Ray-Ray McCloud on one of those deep passing attempts from Lance. And while O’Neal wasn’t alone in coverage, his questionable coverage skills didn’t exactly shine here:
"Lance’s first touchdown throw traveled at least 40 yards down field and was caught by Ray-Ray McCloud III. The former Pittsburgh Steeler wideout was being covered by safeties Leon O’Neal and Tayler Hawkins. The sophomore quarterback’s second deep pass went straight down the middle of the field, into the awaiting hands of tight end Jordan Matthews as he crossed the goal line. Both O’Neal and Hawkins were in coverage for both eye-popping plays."
O’Neal is a long shot to start in 2022, but his chances to make the 53-man roster are still open. And it’s a bit unfortunate the bulk of his on-field efforts during minicamp were less about interceptions and pass breakouts, rather they were more about challenges in coverage.
No. 1: 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir
San Francisco spent considerable effort revamping its cornerback room during the offseason, which doesn’t necessarily bode well for second-year corner Deommodore Lenoir, especially after he was benched for other options halfway through his rookie season in 2021.
With the 49ers’ big-ticket free-agent pickup from the offseason, Charvarius Ward, doing sideline drills and not partaking in on-field practices, though, Lenoir had a chance to solidify his role and roster spot.
Unfortunately, those prospects aren’t looking too good right now.
Lenoir didn’t earn praise from Grant Cohn on either day of minicamp, and this day-one review wasn’t exactly a lofty endorsement:
"[Lenoir] gave up a long catch to Brandon Aiyuk, and is pretty much the only cornerback on the team who routinely gives up big plays. I see why the 49ers benched him last season. He’s a liability."
On other minicamp practice reports, Lenoir was often the defensive back in coverage against other notable receiving plays, corroborating Cohn’s analysis.
Granted, there’s no press-man coverage in minicamp, and that’s one of Lenoir’s strengths. Yet him being on the wrong side of so many notable offensive plays won’t bode well for the defensive back’s roster chance.