The NFL is a brutal business. Even players who signed with new teams this offseason aren't safe bets to make final rosters. San Francisco 49ers safety Ashtyn Davis may have only signed less than two months ago, but he's already fighting for his spot on the team.
Davis signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Niners in June. With minimal guarantees included, the contract doesn't make him any safer than the players currently behind him on the depth chart.
He was a starting safety in the NFL a year ago. In a few short weeks, he could be out of the league entirely.
49ers safety Ashtyn Davis is already on the roster bubble
Davis wasn't a bright spot for the Miami Dolphins in 2025, but few players were. On the back end of a shaky defense, he allowed a passer rating of 108 when targeted and missed over 20 percent of his tackle attempts, per PFF.
In the middle of Miami's roster overhaul, it was no surprise they chose to let him walk. Davis waited for months in free agency before eventually landing with San Francisco. He arrived in the middle of OTAs, missing some of the acclamation period his teammates had.
Entering training camp, Davis is set to compete for a backup safety role. Ji'Ayir Brown and Malik Mustafa will likely command the starting jobs, while Davis, Marques Sigle, and rookie undrafted free agent Jalen Stroman will fight for either one or two more roster spots.
The 49ers carried four safeties on their initial 53-man roster in 2025. Sigle, primed for a resurgence under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, will likely take the third spot. That leaves Davis and Stroman battling for the final position.
Davis is the early favorite entering training camp, but his job isn't secure. Stroman is a dark-horse candidate to steal a final roster spot. The undrafted rookie was excellent at driving downhill to stop the run in college. He logged three tackles for loss and one sack in his final season at Notre Dame despite lining up as a deep safety on nearly two-thirds of his snaps.
The rookie's positional versatility will make him one to watch in training camp, as he can line up all over the defensive formation.
Stroman's physicality and tenacity as a tackler could make him an instant coach's favorite in training camp. If the undrafted rookie can impress the 49ers' defensive staff, Davis may end up on the outside, looking in.
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