49ers roster: Poor Josh Hokit can never get a chance to shine

Being a backup fullback to one of the best in the league is the reality for the 49ers’ Josh Hokit, who is probably looking at yet another year waiting his turn.

Putting on our Major League Baseball hat for a moment, imagine being a shortstop in the New York Yankees’ minor league system for all those years while Hall of Famer Derek Jeter was the Bronx Bombers’ captain.

Simply put, no chance for that shortstop to make a dent with the Yanks. Not while Jeter was there.

While nowhere near as high-profile, that’s basically what San Francisco 49ers reserve fullback Josh Hokit is facing.

As long as the Niners employ a fully healthy Pro Bowl fullback in Kyle Juszczyk, Hokit will never get a shot. At least not in that capacity and certainly not with San Francisco.

Granted, San Francisco’s undrafted free-agent pickup from 2020 did play some linebacker at Fresno State, so perhaps that’s something to chew on. And it isn’t as if his offensive laurels with the Bulldogs were horrendous.

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But it’s been over two years since Hokit played in a meaningful game. And with the 49ers signing Juszczyk to a new five-year deal in advance of the 2021 season, the thought of Hokit eventually replacing Juice as a full-time option has all but disappeared.

What awaits Hokit in 2022 now?

Why Josh Hokit improves with 49ers in 2022

About the only opportunities that Hokit will get between now and Week 1 to showcase his value is by doing so in both training camp and the preseason.

That might be a great shot, as the Niners likely won’t field Juszczyk much at all during the exhibition period.

But, unless Juszczyk suffers some sort of injury or Hokit winds up converting to a new position and excelling there, the fruits of any improvement won’t be felt in San Francisco.

Why Josh Hokit won’t get his chance with 49ers in 2022

Again, the 49ers aren’t going to bump Jusczcyk from his starting role even if Hokit somehow blossoms like crazy between now and the regular season.

There are, however, 31 other teams that could be interested if they see something from Hokit during the preseason they like, perhaps then looking to sign him away if and when the 49ers waive the third-year pro ahead of Week 1.

What’s in store for Josh Hokit this season

Hokit’s one-year deal worth up to $705,000 carries zero in guaranteed money and nothing by the way of a dead-cap hit if he’s waived.

So, the clearest option for Hokit would be almost identical to what happened to him last year, playing a bit in the preseason while Juszczyk rests and then finding himself a part of post-preseason roster cuts.

Potentially reverting back to the practice squad where he’s been the last two seasons.

However, there’s always the chance another team comes calling before the Niners attempt to stash him there as a Juszczyk reserve option, and that might be what Hokit is gunning for so he can finally take that elusive regular-season snap that’s evaded him ever since going pro.