In each of the previous three seasons, it was a bit of a shocker to see offensive lineman Nick Zakelj survive cuts and make the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster.
Perhaps it was originally because he was quarterback Brock Purdy's roommate. Or, maybe, the Niners saw something worth developing when they selected the small-school Fordham product in Round 6 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Yet the 6-foot-6 and 316-pound lineman hasn't come close to cracking the starting lineup, and it's fair to wonder if he's more of a liability at this point rather than a bonus to the Niners depth chart.
With one week of preseason action in the books, it appears as if San Francisco is asking that very same question.
On the plus side, Zakelj appeared in 17 games in 2024, the most to date over his thiree-plus years in the league. Yet the 49ers haven't found a true home for him, trying him as a swing tackle early in his career, then a center (who couldn't seem to snap the ball) and now a candidate to back up the starters at guard.
The recent effort, as he enters year four of his career, might signify the final chance the Niners give him.
And all signs are pointing to Zakelj losing that opportunity, too.
Nick Zakelj rapidly losing hold on a 49ers roster spot
Exactly why and how he held onto a roster spot this long might be commendable, but the evidence is suggesting others on San Francisco's depth chart are passing Zakelj up.
Case in point, from Niners Nation's Kyle Posey, Zakelj's efforts during the 49ers' 30-9 exhibition Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos were anything but promising:
"The 49ers are a Ben Bartch injury away from Zakelj starting, and that’s worrisome. To me, that game highlighted Zakelj’s lack of fight. There were plenty of times I found myself watching the offense, wondering how much trouble they’d be in because Zakelj’s man kept winning against him."
Luckily for the Niners, it appears as if they have Zakelj's replacement on the depth chart already on the ascent, rookie guard Connor Colby, whom Pro Football Focus graded as San Francisco's best blocker from last Saturday's game.
Colby, a seventh-round rookie, might have originally been a flier. But he already appears to be making Zakelj expendable, which likely leads to an overdue outcome.
Should San Francisco waive the 2022 draftee, it'd cost them just over $47,000 in dead money but would generate $1.1 million in cap savings, per Over the Cap. More importantly, though, not retaining him frees up a roster spot for one of the other fringe players who have been impressing into the latter days of summer, perhaps someone like cornerback Chase Lucas or running back Corey Kiner.
If the choice boils down between Zakelj and Lucas/Kiner, parting ways with the former makes too much sense.