At this point, with the calendar set to turn to May soon and the 2026 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, we know very little about how the 2026 San Francisco 49ers will look come the first week of September.
Veterans could underperform in training camp. Rookies could rise. Injuries (knock on all the wood) could rear their ugly heads.
But none of that is going to stop us from trying to play general manager and figure out what the makeup of the roster will be when it comes time to par the group down to an initial group of 53.
With a solid group of veterans heading into the season, there are few starting positions available, but plenty of space for rookies and other younger players to make their mark as depth pieces.
So, let's take a look at how it will all shake out.
49ers projected offense
Quarterbacks (3)
QB1 Brock Purdy
QB2 Mac Jones
PS: Kurtis Rourke
The top two are set for another season, as Purdy looks to stay healthy and fully cement himself as one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. Jones will treat every opportunity as an audition for the 2027 offseason.
Rourke may end up making the initial roster, but I assume the 49ers would rather sneak him onto the practice squad if they can. Adrian Martinez is also an option if Rourke gets snatched up during the waiver process.
Running Backs (5)
HB Christian McCaffrey
FB Kyle Juszczyk
HB Jordan James
HB Kaelon Black
HB Patrick Taylor
The only real surprise here: the absence of Isaac Guerendo.
It sort of feels like that situation has run its course, and with James pushing to take over as CMC's backup and newly drafted Kaelon Black in town, the last spot has to come down to someone who can be a special teams ace.
Guerendo didn't prove himself there either last season, so it's Taylor who gets the final slot.
Wide Receivers (6)
WR Mike Evans
WR Ricky Pearsall
WR De'Zhaun Stribling
WR Christian Kirk/Demarcus Robinson
WR Jordan Watkins
WR Jacob Cowing
The top of this group, Evans, Pearsall, and Stribling, is set in stone.
From there, it feels like there's one veteran spot for either Kirk or Robinson, and either getting cut will result in a dead cap hit ($2.78 million for Kirk and $3.8 this year for Robinson), hence the lack of commitment there.
It wouldn't be outside of the realm of possibility for both of them to make the team at the expense of either Watkins or, more likely, Cowing, who is here on the basis of becoming the Niners' primary punt returner.
Also in that mix is Junior Bergen, who spent last season on the practice squad.
Tight Ends (3)
TE George Kittle
TE Jake Tonges
TE Luke Ferrell
The state of this group to start the season depends on Kittle's health, of course. If he's ready, then he'll be here and stay here. Either way, he'll make the initial group before heading to IR for at least a month
Tonges is back after a solid 2025, as is Ferrell, on the second year of his deal from last offseason.
Brayden Willis remains with the team after failing to contribute outside of special teams, and San Francisco added Khalil Dinkins from Penn State as a UDFA. But, provided Kittle is good to go, don't expect much movement here.
Offensive Lineman (7)
LG Robert Jones
C Jake Brendel
RG Dominick Puni
RT Colton McKivitz
OT Vederian Lowe
OL Carver Willis
OG/C Brent Toth
PS: Enrique Cruz, Jr
The starting group, save for Jones, is set, but don't be surprised if Toth, Willis or Cruz don't get chances to unseat the newly signed Jones from that spot.
This could be a spot where they opt to keep nine, but we'll keep the lower number for elsewhere.
Offense: 24
49ers projected defense
Defensive Lineman (10)
EDGE Nick Bosa
DE Mykel Williams
DT Alfred Collins
DT CJ West
DT Osa Odighizuwa
DT Gracen Halton
EDGE Romello Height
DE Sam Okuayinonu
EDGE Keion White
EDGE Cameron Sample
As always this is the largest group on the team, with 10 total players, many of whom will probably shift throughout the season.
It seems safe to lock in the top names -- Bosa, Williams, Collins, West, Odighizuwa, and even Height -- with Halton just on the outside of the "no chance he doesn't make the team" list.
That leaves seven between Okuayinonu, White, Sample, and maybe Sebastian Valdez, not to mention a few of the UDFA guys, with Indiana edge rusher Mikail Kamara standing out as a guy who could make some noise in camp. Fifth-round draft pick Jaden Dugger is a project here, too, but will be a guy the Niners want to keep around.
Linebackers (6)
LB Fred Warner
LB Dre Greenlaw
LB Tatum Bethune
LB Nick Martin
LB Luke Gifford
LB Garrett Wallow
I don't feel great about six linebackers, but the top three to four guys feel fairly entrenched, especially after the 49ers traded Dee Winters during the draft.
The last two are guys the Niners liked enough to bring back on free-agent deals, with Gifford in particular inking a two-year deal, albeit one San Francisco can get out of for relatively cheap.
Those spots come down to special teams, with both having the ability to excel there.
Defensive Backs (10)
CB Deommodore Lenoir
CB Renardo Green
SCB Upton Stout
S Malik Mustapha
S Ji'Ayir Brown
CB Ephesians Prysock
CB Nate Hobbs
CB Jack Jones
S Marques Sigle
S Siran Neal
As is par for this course, the starters feel fairly well locked in, with Lenoir, Green, Mustapha, and Stout most especially entrenched. The second safety spot likely comes down to Brown or Sigle, barring another late signing.
A name to watch there is UDFA Jalen Stroman out of Notre Dame, who could have a chance to wow the coaching staff and supplant one of those two, or veteran Neal.
The cornerback depth is a good starting point, with rookie Prysock coming up as the standout, but both Hobbs and Jones have had success in the past.
Other names to note, of course, are Darrell Luter, Jakob Robinson, and Tre Tomlinson, all of whom could be on the outside, looking in.
Defense: 26
49ers specialists
K Eddie Piñeiro
P Corliss Waitman
LS Jon Weeks
No shocking moves here, as Piñeiro signed his big deal over the offseason, and Weeks is the only option on the roster at this point.
Waitman is probably the guy here, but San Francisco did bring in UDFA Jack Bouwmeester out of Texas. It's a righty versus lefty battle at punter, but maybe this just makes the rookie a guy the 49ers call upon during the season for practice opportunities.
Specialists: 3
Final Thoughts
There aren't a ton of openings on this roster, but the rookies will have a chance to make noise here, as evidenced by six of the eight draft picks making this version.
If nothing else, this sets up what should be an exciting continuation of the offseason as mini-camps and training camp get started soon.
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