49ers must sign these 2 players ahead of first preseason game vs. Titans

Saturday will mark the first preseason game of the 2024 season for the San Francisco 49ers. They will travel to Music City and play the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in an exhibition bout on Aug. 10.

While many of the positions have been filled on the roster, the Niners do have some concerns in the depth at a few places.

While the league has been hit with a bevy of trade rumors and speculation regarding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco exercised a contingency plan by drafting Ricky Pearsall in the first round and Jacob Cowing in the fourth round during last April's NFL Draft. It also extended veteran wideout Jauan Jennings this offseason, too.

However, with recent injuries and potential small setbacks to the 49ers' running backs, it may behoove them to bring in a capable veteran.

Insert Brandon Bolden.

1. Brandon Bolden

The native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, played eight of his first nine seasons in the league with the New England Patriots. He had a one-year stop down south with the Miami Dolphins in 2018.

Though Bolden is not an every-down rusher, he has shown his durability by playing at least 14 games in every season since his third one in the league. If signed and offered a roster spot, this would be his 12th year in the NFL.

Christian McCaffrey has a calf injury that will keep him from seeing action for a short period of time, and he's not expected to play in the preseason at all. Backups Elijah Mitchell and rookie Isaac Guerendo are both on injury reports, too.

The 49ers thrived due to the ability to move the chains by having a balanced offense. After all, McCaffrey was the league's leading rusher.

Bolden player fits the mold for a weapon in San Francisco. He has produced carrying the ball and also put up numbers receiving the football, too. In the last four seasons (and with three different teams), Bolden has rushed for a combined 10 touchdowns (five by air and five by land).

While adding Bolden may not spike the chances upward in the team's potential success, it does provide the 49ers with a viable option should McCaffrey, Mitchell, Guerendo or any other running back get hurt.

2. Zach Cunningham

Linebacker is another position on the 49ers roster that could use another look. With Dre Greenlaw being out with an Achilles recovery and Fred Warner dealing with a minor foot injury, San Francisco may want to glance at some options on who to bring in.

While the 49ers did sign Ezekiel Turner and Leonard Floyd early on in the offseason, adding depth never hurts when a team is looking to make a return trip to the Super Bowl.

The Niners should make a call to Zach Cunningham.

The product of Vanderbilt University played his first five seasons for the Houston Texans. He then played two more in the AFC South but with the Tennessee Titans.

Last year, Cunningham factored to be a major contributor to the Philadelphia Eagles' own championship aspirations. In 13 games, he had 85 total tackles for head coach Nick Siriano's team.

Cunningham had only played in 10 games between his two seasons in Nashville. He had just 50 total tackles in the two years and only one pass defended.

Tendering Cunningham a contract to fill another roster spot before cuts have to be made may not be a bad idea for the 49ers.

Bolden and Cunningham look like a lucrative shot in the dark to bring San Francisco back to the title game (and with a better result than the last one).

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