4 darkhorse 49ers who deserve a roster spot (but might not get one)

Tatum Bethune, LB

This is a very personal pick, although it does seem like beat writers and casual observers are now also picking up on the hype around the previously-unheralded seventh round pick following his solid performances in the opening two preseason games.

In both cases, rookie Tatum Bethune led the team in tackles, and looked fast, aggressive, and smart. But for an overturned turnover, he might have even added a defensive touchdown to his portfolio against the Saints, which surely would've got tongues wagging.

The 49ers have been pretty good at finding value at the linebacker position, with notables like Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and now-departed Azeez Al-Shaair all being mid- to low-round picks.

That said, when Bethune was picked in April, very very late in the final round, he looked a long shot to do anything beyond make up the numbers in the offseason, with a possible practice squad spot if he wasn't entirely overwhelmed.

However, his play has far exceeded that level, and given how much he keeps jumping off the screen when analysing the film, it's hard to imagine that he couldn't play at the NFL level somewhere.

The problem for him, of course, is that he's walking into possibly the hottest-contested position on the 49ers roster, up against other players with either more experience or similar upside.

However, as the team has a habit of keeping six players at the position, he likely only has to beat out one of them to stick around.