49ers roster bubble watch with 2023 NFL Draft in the books
By Peter Panacy
49ers roster bubble watch: Defensive line
Lock: Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Kevin Givens, Javon Hargrave, Drake Jackson, Javon Kinlaw
Strong bubble: Robert Beal Jr.*, Clelin Ferrell, Kerry Hyder Jr.
Weak bubble: Alex Barrett, Kalia Davis, Austin Bryant
Long shot: T.Y. McGill, Marlon Davidson, Spencer Waege*
The 49ers defensive line is a bit topheavy, but it should be. Especially with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa, in town. And after adding former Philadelphia Eagles star defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in NFL free agency, the other pieces are quite ancillary.
Hargrave isn't going to push out fellow defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, but the latter will see his role reduced to a backup one. And the Niners will hope for some depth defensive tackles like Kalia Davis or Kerry Hyder made a solid impact.
But the real question is at the No. 2 edge-rushing spot opposite Bosa. Last year, San Francisco relied upon Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu, both of whom left in free agency.
Will it be second-year pro Drake Jackson finally filling into form, literally and figuratively? Or can one of the 49ers' two reclamation free-agent projects, Austin Bryant or Clelin Ferrell, provide a spark?
Maybe it'll be the raw-but-promising rookie, Georgia's Robert Beal Jr., whom the Niners grabbed in Round 5 of the draft.
Whatever the case, this position battle should be a fun one to watch.