5 49ers playing for their jobs at training camp

With so many young players incoming, some 49ers veterans will have to push hard to keep their roster spots.

The San Francisco 49ers have, quarterback questions aside, a top-five roster in the NFL.

That seems to be without much debate, even among those who seem to think the team may regress from last year's pace.

Beyond the strength of their roster, it is also a relatively older one with most positions filled by established veterans who have no need to prove themselves in their roles coming training camp.

Through the NFL Draft, the Niners opted to add necessary depth to their roster (rather than challenging for starting positions, players would be most important in replenishing the strength of the backups at most positions) which means that training camp might end up being far more interesting than usual.

After all, last year, Brock Purdy, whose relevance to the 49ers in the draft was in the pure upside a competent backup quarterback could provide, ended up winning out against Nate Sudfield, paving the way for his eventual ascension to starting quarterback.

While most starters are pretty locked in place, there will be real competition for critical backup positions.

Here are five players who must cement their status on the 53-man roster.

No. 1: 49ers RB Tyrion Davis-Price

We begin with a third-round running back entering his second season on the fringe of the roster, just like last year. The 49ers cutting Trey Sermon (their 2020 third-round pick) was surprising given how much they had invested in the player in the first place, but his performance had not justified any roster security.

Last year, Sermon was pushed out by two main factors: Elijah Mitchell having cemented himself as a capable starting back for the team, and Jordan Mason dominating camp. With two young backs already performing (and the unlikely chance of releasing a third-round rookie in Tyrion Davis-Price), Sermon ran out of space.

This year for the 49ers is different. Instead of Jeff Wilson Jr., the Niners have Christian McCaffrey, a top-three running back in the NFL and a player who completely changes the skills required for the position.

Because of McCaffrey's addition, San Francisco's running backs are being pressed into larger receiving roles across the depth chart, putting Davis-Price at a disadvantage.

Given the 49ers' willingness to move off players drafted highly if other options are available, should a rookie running back be more suited for the system they want, or even if McCaffrey's addition allows the Niners to lessen how many backs they hold, Davis-Price is the one player who would be in danger.

An excellent training camp will take the pressure off him, potentially allowing him to make up ground on the depth chart.