49ers depth chart: 3 positions with the biggest logjams in 2022
By Peter Panacy
49ers position No. 1: Defensive line
Players on roster: Arik Armstead, Kevin Atkins*, Alex Barrett, Nick Bosa, Kalia Davis*, Samson Ebukam, Dee Ford, Kevin Givens, Kerry Hyder Jr., Drake Jackson*, Javon Kinlaw, Charles Omenihu, Hassan Ridgeway, Kemoko Turay, Jordan Willis
The Niners have used their first pick in four of the last six NFL Drafts under John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan on a defensive lineman, capped off most recently by the Round 2 pickup of former USC EDGE Drake Jackson.
Jackson presumably replaces oft-injured pass-rusher Dee Ford, who isn’t expected to be on the roster come Week 1, but that only frees up a small part of the logjam.
The outside pass rush is one again deep with Pro Bowler Nick Bosa now assisted by Jackson and receiving additional help from former Indianapolis Colts EDGE Kemoko Turay, who’ll battle it out with returning veterans like Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu for more featured roles.
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This could easily push speed rusher Jordan Willis and San Francisco’s sack leader from 2020, Kerry Hyder, off the 53-man roster by the time the regular season rolls around.
While the 49ers’ D-line interior is a little less potent, there’s still quite the logjam. The versatile Hassan Ridgeway was one of the Niners’ key free-agent pickups from the offseason, and he might fill a number of support roles behind presumed starters like Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, meaning it might be wise for San Francisco to redshirt its sixth-round rookie, Kalia Davis, as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered his last season in college.
Regardless, there are going to be some starting-caliber players from the D-line group the 49ers will have to part ways with prior to Week 1.
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