NFL writer dubs four 49ers as cut candidates before 53-man deadline

The San Francisco 49ers wrapped their preseason slate with a shutout loss against the Houston Texans. It wasn’t the performance Kyle Shanahan was hoping for in the final regular season tune-up and fans are hoping this marked the last time in 2022 (and 2023) that this high-powered offense is blanked on the scoreboard.

While exhibitions results ultimately don’t matter, it’s worth speculating if the 49ers’ lackluster performance could influence roster decisions leading up to Tuesday’s 53-man deadline.

With a roster as deep as San Francisco’s, some players who’d walk onto other team’s rosters without breaking a sweat are at risk of getting the axe, so Shanahan and the front office face some tough decisions over the next few days.

With the deadline right around the corner, NFL Media writer Eric Edholm highlighted some well-known veterans around the league who could be traded or cut by Tuesday evening.

If you can believe it, four 49ers made the article.

One NFL writer thinks these four 49ers are in danger of getting cut.

The first cut candidate, Jimmy Garoppolo, is quite obvious. Barring a contender suffering a catastrophic injury at quarterback, it’s hard to envision a team forking over draft capital while inheriting a $24.2 million salary for a likely backup (or stopgap) who underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder this offseason.

49ers fans have been waiting patiently for the Garoppolo domino to fall, but he seems like a surefire bet to get cut rather than traded should San Francisco move on.

Edholm’s next three candidates — Kerry Hyder, Kemoko Turay and Jordan Willis– unsurprisingly all hail on the 49ers’ loaded defensive line. The top three players on the depth chart are as straightforward as it gets.

Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam are your starters and rookie Drake Jackson’s athleticism has been on display throughout camp and the preseason, though his hunger for sacks got the best of him Thursday as he delivered a late hit on Texans QB Davis Mills and he’s now subject to a fine from the NFL.

Jackson has established himself as the top backup behind Bosa and Ebukam. The remaining spots, however, lack any semblance of clarity.

Could Hyder’s familiarity with the coaching staff give him the edge? Surely the 49ers won’t give up on developing Turay after they signed him in free agency, right? Willis, meanwhile, has 60 games under his belt but just 8.5 sacks to show for it, and Alex Barrett, a practice squad stash last season, has put up a respectable fight.

Throw Charles Omenihu into the mix and you’re talking about five players competing for three or four spots. Assuming none of them get traded, San Francisco will have to make one or two cutthroat decisions before Tuesday.

Stay tuned.

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