49ers training camp: Rookie stock watch after one week of practice

While Trey Lance and the defense have dominated headlines from 49ers training camp, let’s hone in on the rookies and how well they’ve looked after one week.

Way back in 2017, there was plenty of training camp focus on the San Francisco 49ers’ rookie NFL Draft class within the context of a rebuild in the first year under head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

In 2019, all the focus centered on then-rookie EDGE Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in that year’s draft, while 2021 saw some focus on that year’s No. 3 overall pick, quarterback Trey Lance, despite the assumption he’d serve as a backup to Jimmy Garoppolo in year one.

The Niners’ 2022 NFL Draft class and subsequent undrafted free agents were almost entirely intended to be depth pieces with awfully few of them candidates to start in year one. Some may be closer than others, yes, but the bulk of rookies are likely tabbed as backups if they end up making San Francisco’s 53-man roster at all.

Still, with one week of training camp in the books, let’s perform a stock watch on the 49ers’ higher-profile rookies and see who’s on the rise (bullish) and who’s falling (bearish).

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: EDGE Drake Jackson

The 49ers seem to understand their top pick from this year’s draft, former USC EDGE Drake Jackson, won’t be an every-down player right away, and he still needs to fine-tune his run-stopping abilities to achieve that benchmark.

However, as a situational pass-rusher, Jackson could find a niche role in year one.

Jackson has been featured in some pass-rush situations early in camp, even recording a would-be sack against Lance in full-team drills. Having leaned out a little bit after showing up to rookie minicamp slightly overweight, the second-round draftee certainly looks more explosive.

In tandem with Bosa, Jackson could eventually wind up being a formidable No. 2 pass-rushing option at some point down the line.

While the Niners are far away from seeing whether or not that’ll pan out, the early results from the former Trojan are looking promising enough.

Stock: Bullish

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: RB Tyrion Davis-Price

If San Francisco had a questionable pick in the 2022 draft, it was using a Round 3 selection on former LSU running back Tyrion Davis-Price despite having used a third-rounder on running back Trey Sermon a year ago and also having its leading rusher, Elijah Mitchell, poised for another quality season.

Diving deeper, the decision to draft Davis-Price makes a lot of sense, yet it wasn’t totally clear whether or not the rookie would make any sort of substantial impact right away.

Sure, Davis-Price is showing some early problems catching the ball out of the backfield. But, as Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn broke down after one particular day of practice where the rookie impressed, Davis-Price is surely making his presence known:

"He’s the opposite of Trey Sermon, who is in terrific shape, but is not explosive and is indecisive. Sermon repeatedly stops his feet behind the line of scrimmage and looks to bounce runs outside even though he’s not fast enough to do so. Davis-Price finds a crease and explodes through it as hard as he can. I prefer his style to Sermon’s style."

The 49ers need Davis-Price’s physicality and tough running style to bully opposing defenses early in games, thereby opening things up for the faster, more elusive Mitchell later on. Additionally, the Niners struggled in short-yardage rushing situations a year ago, suggesting another role for the rookie, too.

So far, so good.

Stock: Bullish

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: WR Danny Gray

Like Tyrion Davis-Price, it wasn’t hard to see why San Francisco invested a third-round pick in former SMU wide receiver Danny Gray, whose 4.33 40-yard speed was intended to give Kyle Shanahan a true deep threat.

Gray was impressive during rookie minicamp, and despite suffering a minor hamstring injury during organized team activities, all thoughts were on him being just as explosive during training camp, too, even if it was with only second- and third-string units.

However, so far during camp, Gray hasn’t been able to stretch the field in the kind of way one initially anticipated. The lack of separation and a relatively simple route tree stemming from his days in college appear to be hindering the rookie in more ways than one, and he hasn’t found himself frequently targeted because of this.

Related Story: Rookie Danny Gray still has a lot to prove during 49ers training camp

It’s not likely these early setbacks will endanger Gray’s roster chances, but they could cut into his projected role this season, possibly opening up another option like wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud to use his own speed to get behind defenses.

Fans may need to be patient with Gray while he develops, as he’s off to a relatively slow start at camp.

Stock: Bearish

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: OL Spencer Burford

The 49ers offensive line has been a bit of a problem early in training camp, although that’s partially due to not having either starting tackle, Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, for the entire one-week duration.

Regardless, the interior is still a massive question mark, particularly at center where Kyle Shanahan has experimented with Jake Brendel and Daniel Brunskill in the wake of Alex Mack’s offseason retirement.

Brunskill might be the better option, which opens up yet another void at right guard, one which fourth-round rookie Spencer Burford could potentially fill right away.

Burford has been getting first-team reps, which helps increase his stock value considerably. However, this hasn’t exactly generated the best results, as Niners interior defensive linemen have regularly worked him and other inside O-linemen over on a consistent basis.

It’s possible things improve when Burford and the rest of the O-line don pads and are allowed to use more physicality to block this week, yet the early showings are still needing some improvement.

Stock: Even

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: CB Samuel Womack

While Danny Gray was busy impressing during rookie minicamp, fifth-round rookie cornerback Samuel Womack was also showing plenty of positive moments, suggesting San Francisco had correctly identified the long-term replacement for now-Denver Broncos nickel back K’Waun Williams.

Through one week of training camp, the 49ers secondary has been one of the pinnacle positives, yet Womack hasn’t necessarily been the featured storyline.

On top of that, the Niners have been lining the former Toledo defensive back up with the third-string unit, giving veteran corners like Dontae Johnson and Darqueze Dennard more important reps over the slot.

This isn’t necessarily bad news for Womack, as most day-three rookies will, at best, be featured with the third-stringers in training camp until they prove they’re vastly outpacing the competition. So, in that regard, Womack is probably right where he needs to be.

However, it’s no longer looking like he’ll be an immediate starter, suggesting his stock value took a slight decline.

Stock: Bearish

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: CB Tariq Castro-Fields

Unlike Samuel Womack, sixth-round cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields appears to be trending in the exact opposite direction.

OK, slightly. But the trend is still pointing upward.

Castro-Fields looked a bit overwhelmed during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, which would have been a concern considering San Francisco was resting the bulk of its best receiving options during those practices.

However, at least early in training camp, the former Penn State corner showed few of those signs of struggle, even though it was primarily with the third-string defense.

The 49ers primarily fielded Castro-Fields on the boundary, yet they could consider him as a solid inside-corner option where they’ve historically placed young defensive backs as reserves to K’Waun Williams prior to this season.

And while the Niners still have an awfully stockpiled cornerback room, endangering Castro-Fields’ chances of making the 53-man roster, he’s at least making the decision a tough one so far.

Stock: Bearish

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: QB Brock Purdy

In many ways, the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, quarterback Brock Purdy, faced a near-impossible task of making San Francisco’s regular-season roster solely due to circumstances beyond his control.

Even if the 49ers move on from Jimmy Garoppolo, which is expected to happen, Trey Lance isn’t going anywhere. And the Niners have $2 million fully guaranteed reasons to keep backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld on the roster, too.

Sudfeld hasn’t been good in training camp (in fairness, the entire offense has struggled), yet tossing three interceptions in one day won’t assist Sudfeld’s own stock value either.

The problem with Purdy, though, is he’s also had practices with multiple interceptions, fully showcasing a weak arm and the inability to regularly toss passes with any zip more than 10 yards down the field.

Purdy could have been a candidate for a No. 3 quarterbacking role on the 53-man roster if the Niners ultimately elect to go that route. However, over the course of one week of camp, the former Iowa State signal-caller is making San Francisco’s decision with him a relatively easy one.

The 49ers won’t need to use a roster spot on him in 2022.

Stock: Bearish

49ers training camp rookie stock watch: The undrafted free agents

Essentially each one of the Niners’ undrafted free agents faces a massive uphill task of trying to crack the 53-man roster, thanks largely to the fact San Francisco already has a playoff-caliber group with awfully little room for fringe players trying to hang around.

There have been some standouts from the UDFA class, though, while others are revealing why they went undrafted in the first place.

Here are a few worth noting.

OL Jason Poe

The former Mercer lineman has had issues timing the snap count, which would equate to false starts, and he’s regularly overpowered by depth linemen.

Jason Poe will likely need a lot of refinement on the practice squad if the 49ers want to continue investing time in him.

Stock: Bearish

WR Tay Martin

The Niners aren’t likely to have a lot of room for Tay Martin unless they keep six wide receivers and he wholly outshines the competition.

However, working exclusively with the third-string group, Martin has flashed a few promising moments during camp and could continue surprising as a dark-horse roster contender.

Stock: Bullish

OL Dohnovan West

Arizona State center Dohnovan West could and should have been drafted, perhaps as early as day two, but he’s not showing up on San Francisco’s practice reports.

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That’s usually bad news for undrafted rookies, who need to be in the headlines for all the right reasons.

Stock: Bearish

RB Jordan Mason

Running back Jordan Mason could potentially overtake fellow tailbacks JaMycal Hasty or Jeff Wilson Jr. on the depth chart, and the former Georgia Tech product has been making the most of those limited opportunities he’s received thus far.

Stock: Bullish

The 49ers resume camp practices on Monday, Aug. 1