Week 1 is a long time away, but let's take a post-NFL Draft stab at what the 49ers' 53-man roster will look like to begin the season.
The 2023 NFL Draft is a week old, and we're already looking at predictions for how the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster will come together this season.
Ludicrous, right? Of course. But we're having fun with predictions.
Sure, training camp and the preseason will dictate a lot, and head coach Kyle Shanahan still has much more thinking to do before deciding which players from his 90-man offseason roster (including recent draftees and undrafted rookies) make the cut down to 53.
And which ones don't.
Taking into account what we know now, let's offer up early predictions for how the Niners' opening 53-man roster will come together.
This time, there's actually some drama with special teams.
Note: Rookies denoted by an asterisk (*)
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Special teams (3)
In: K Jake Moody*, P Mitch Wishnowsky, LS Taybor Pepper
Out: K Zane Gonzalez
San Francisco traded for former Carolina Panthers kicker Zane Gonzalez, but the low-end cost of swapping day-three draft picks next year means the 49ers aren't committed to him in a big way.
By using a third-round pick on former Michigan kicker Jake Moody, the Niners made it clear he's the guy going forward, not Gonzalez. The only way the latter usurps the hotshot rookie is if Moody winds up completely flaming out in camp or suffering some sort of injury.
Onto the secondary now.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Defensive backfield (10)
In: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Isaiah Oliver, Talanoa Hufanga, Tashaun Gipson, Samuel Womack, George Odum, Myles Hartsfield, Ji’Ayir Brown*, Darrell Luter Jr.*
Out: Qwuantrezz Knight, Ambry Thomas, A.J. Parker, D’Shawn Jamison*, Avery Young*, Tayler Hawkins
For now, it would appear as if Deommodore Lenoir is the No. 2 boundary cornerback to pair with Charvarius Ward, although rookie Darrell Luter Jr. could soon challenge Lenoir for that role.
San Francisco's top pick in the NFL Draft, Ji'Ayir Brown, might challenge Tashaun Gipson for the starting free safety job, but it's more likely that Brown kicks off his NFL career by being a versatile backup who can play all across the secondary.
Perhaps Brown challenges to play nickel cornerback, too, where one figures either Isaiah Oliver or Samuel Womack are going to be competing.
Oliver has a two-year deal with $2.9 million guaranteed, though, so he's not going anywhere.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Linebacker (5)
In: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Dee Winters*
Out: Curtis Robinson, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jalen Graham*, Mariano Sori-Marin*
The 49ers still have one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL despite losing an underrated and high-quality backer in Azeez Al-Shaair during the offseason.
However, with the addition of former TCU backer Dee Winters, one might make the argument that the Niners actually improved this lot.
Winters fits San Francisco perfectly, epitomizing that blend of linebacker and safety, and he could challenge to be the No. 3 option behind Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner. That's not necessarily great news for reserve linebackers like Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and second-year pro Marcelino McCrary-Ball, and it's not great for the 49ers' seventh-round pickup, Purdue's Jalen Graham, either.
Expect at least one of the ousted linebackers to wind up on the Niners' practice squad, though.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Defensive line (9)
In: Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell, Kevin Givens, Javon Kinlaw, Javon Hargrave, Kerry Hyder, Drake Jackson, Robert Beal Jr.*
Out: Alex Barrett, Austin Bryant, Kalia Davis, T.Y. McGill, Spencer Waege*
Each year, San Francisco pours resources into its defensive line, which makes predictions both easier and tougher at the same time.
Case in point, the 49ers inked former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave as their prized offseason free agent, so he's a lock. And not using an NFL Draft pick on a D-lineman helps with some determinations, too, including the reality that fourth-year pro Javon Kinlaw will likely be on the roster, if healthy, even if the Niners aren't picking up his fifth-year option.
Hargrave, Kinlaw, Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead are about the only guarantees, though, while Drake Jackson will need to rebound from a disappointing finish to his rookie year. Signs point to that happening, but it's something to monitor.
Read More: Niners can stay excited about Drake Jackson despite late-year dropoff
A guess would have one of San Francisco's two reclamation projects, Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell, making the roster as a reserve pass-rusher, but both could be on the outs if Jackson and the rookie, Robert Beal, thrive in camp.
Undrafted free-agent lineman Spencer Waege out of North Dakota State is intriguing, but he's likely a practice squad candidate at best in year one.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Offensive line (8)
In: Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Trent Williams, Jon Feliciano, Colton McKivitz, Jason Poe, Nick Zakelj
Out: Alfredo Gutierrez, Keith Ismael, Matt Pryor, Jaylon Moore, Leroy Watson, Joey Fisher*, Corey Luciano*, Ilm Manning*
The 49ers have had success developing reserve offensive linemen and turning them into starters, as was the case last year with returning players like Aaron Banks and Jake Brendel, who'll resume their starting jobs at left guard and center, respectivevly, in 2023.
After losing Mike McGlinchey to the Denver Broncos in free agency, it appears as if another former backup, Colton McKivitz, will be given the shot to start at right tackle moving forward. He'll be challenged by another low-cost free-agent pickup, Matt Pryor, but the job seems to be McKivitz's to lose.
Pryor and Jon Feliciano could potentially fill a role left open by now-Tennessee Titans lineman Daniel Brunskill.
Interestingly enough, the Niners didn't draft an offensive lineman in 2023. They did ink some undrafted free agents, though, and the hope is this year's class follows a path taken by a 2022 UDFA in Jason Poe, who works his way onto the 53-man roster this season after spending his rookie year on the practice squad.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Tight end (4)
In: George Kittle, Ross Dwelley, Cameron Latu*, Brayden Willis*
Out: Charlie Woerner
In the never-ending quest for All-Pro George Kittle's backup, San Francisco double-dipped into what was viewed as a deep pool of tight ends in this year's NFL Draft.
Perhaps Alabama's Cameron Latu, who is raw but has plenty of upside, winds up being that No. 2 complementary piece to Kittle, while a seventh-round pick used on Oklahoma's Brayden Willis could possibly be a steal.
Willis, an H-back kind of player, has plenty of versatility, and that might make him a favorite over a returning veteran like Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner.
Considering the 49ers likely only keep four tight ends on the roster, though, the No. 4 spot ends up falling between Dwelley and Woerner.
Dwelley always seems to find a way to hang around, doesn't he?
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Wide receiver (5)
In: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Ray-Ray McCloud, Jauan Jennings, Ronnie Bell*
Out: Chris Conley, Danny Gray, Tay Martin, Dazz Newsome, Willie Snead IV, Shae Wyatt*
The day is going to come when the Niners can no longer afford to keep both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel on the roster.
That's a problem for another time, though, and San Francisco already is picking up Aiyuk's fifth-year option for 2024, which will keep that duo intact for at least two more seasons.
The depth chart behind those two, however, is a little murkier.
Jauan Jennings seems safe, and Ray-Ray McCloud's return abilities make him safe, too. Assuming the 49ers keep only five wide receivers, though, that'd leave room for only one more body.
Ronnie Bell, the Michigan wideout who could have been selected much earlier than Round 7 this year, ends up getting the nod over the others, including second-year pro speedster Danny Gray, who completely fell out of favor his rookie season.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Running back (5)
In: Kyle Juszczyk, Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Tyrion Davis-Price
Out: Ronald Awatt*, Jack Colletto*, Khalan Laborn*
Jack Colletto, the undrafted fre agent, will fill in for Kyle Juszczyk at fullback during training camp and in the preseason. There isn't much need for the Niners to deploy Juszczyk until it counts, but it will help having a fullback to operate the offense for everyone else.
Jordan Mason, a 2022 UDFA, overtook San Francisco's third-round draftee from that year, Tyrion Davis-Price, on the depth chart. It's probably too soon to suggest Davis-Price suffers the same fate as his preceeding third-round draft choice by the 49ers, Trey Sermon, who was off the roster after one lone disappointing year in the Bay Area.
Things are trending that way, though, but it'd take an awfully impressive effort from either of the two UDFAs from this year, Ronald Awatt and Khalan Laborn, to shake Davis-Price from the roster.
Can Elijah Mitchell finally stay healthy? The Niners need insurance for him.
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Quarterback (3)
In: Trey Lance, Sam Darnold, Brock Purdy
Out: Brandon Allen
Ah, yes. The position group that everyone is wondering about.
There's a very strong chance San Francisco trades Trey Lance at some point between now and Week 1. After all, the signs are all pointing that the 49ers want to endorse Brock Purdy as their starter going forward, while Sam Darnold is even getting praise as a worthy stopgap option.
Purdy is still recovering from offseason elbow surgery, after all, and he might not be ready for the regular season.
That said, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport already suggested the Niners will attempt to move Lance this August when the market could increase, given quarterback injuries in training camp, etc.
However, San Francisco would have to be satisfied with the return, and the lack of trade interest during the draft suggests there isn't much of one. At least not for a two-year pro with a mere four regular-season starts under his belt and coming off a serious ankle injury.
In all reality, Lance is on the 53-man roster to begin the regular season, while Purdy is on it, too, but likely inactive for a couple of weeks.