The San Francisco 49ers have some challenging roster maneuvers ahead of them following Friday’s 24-24 tie with the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason finale. The game included big plays from a pair of fourth-round rookies, receiver Jacob Cowing and running back Isaac Guerendo, who may have sealed the early-season roles of punt returner and kicker returner in the game. It also was a strong outing for quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen, who are vying to be Brock Purdy’s primary backup. Allen, who relieved Purdy in the second quarter, was 5-of-7 for 60 yards while Dobbs was 8-of-10 for 72 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown to Cowing late in the third quarter. Dobbs has scored a touchdown — two rushing, one passing — in each of the 49ers’ three preseason games.
All 32 NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players by 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday. This year they have a new tool at their disposal, as two players can be designated to return from injured reserve at the cutdown. In prior years, every injured player would have to make the initial 53-man roster before going to IR in order to maintain eligibility to play that season. So the 49ers should have extra flexibility this time, but they’ll still face many difficult decisions.
We’ve run through many possibilities in our 53-man roster projection below, which also includes a 16-man practice squad.
Quarterback
The 49ers have been rewarded for stockpiling at the most important position in the past. Starting this season, a team’s emergency third QB can come from the practice squad. That, however, wouldn’t stop another team from poaching any quarterback the 49ers cut. The Tennessee Titans, with head coach Brian Callahan, might be very interested in Allen, for example. Callahan was Allen’s offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals. So the 49ers may have to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster out of necessity. That may constrain their options elsewhere, but this team has been rewarded for stockpiling at the most important position in the past.
Roster: Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen
Practice Squad: Tanner Mordecai
Running Back
The 49ers have typically carried four running backs and a fullback on their 53-man roster. They’ve traded two running backs for fifth-round draft picks, Matt Breida (who’s back with the team) and Jeff Wilson Jr., during Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as coach. If Mitchell can fetch a return, perhaps the 49ers have adequate insulation to execute another trade. They’ve been happy with Breida, Schrader, Patrick Taylor Jr. and Ke’Shawn Vaughn — so expect at least one of those backs to remain in the building, even if it’s on the practice squad.
Roster: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo, Kyle Juszczyk
Practice Squad: Cody Schrader
Wide Receiver
Six has been the typical number here, although the 49ers once carried seven receivers on their 53-man roster. But the most efficient group this year involves Cowing winning the punt returner job. That leaves the door open for Conley, who’s an excellent gunner and ideal backup for Aiyuk at the X receiver position. Pearsall, because he didn’t play in the preseason, might be the inactive one of this group to begin the regular season. But the 49ers are taking their time with his shoulder injury. A prompt resolution of Aiyuk’s hold-in would obviously help everything click into place.
Roster: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley, Ricky Pearsall
Practice Squad: Trent Taylor, Robbie Chosen, Ronnie Bell
Tight End
The first three positions seem settled between Kittle, Saubert and Willis. It’s the fourth spot — and Shanahan has always carried a fourth tight end — that’s hard to predict. Has Latu, who’s improved his hands but is still shaky as a receiver, shown enough as a blocker to make the team? Where will Logan Thomas, a blocking project the 49ers released but recently re-signed, fit in? Tonges is also a developing dark horse.
Roster: George Kittle, Eric Saubert, Brayden Willis, Cam Latu
Practice Squad: Jake Tonges, Mason Pline
Offensive Line
Assuming Williams is back in the facility in time for the roster cutdown, the 49ers may have to take nine offensive linemen — which would be one more than they usually fit onto their 53-man. The first five listed above are their projected starters. Is there a chance Parker or Chris Hubbard make the team over Moore? The 49ers have been working hard to cross-train those players at both left and right tackle so they’re available for the swing tackle role, but Moore has clearly been higher in the pecking order. Stashing Kingston on the practice squad may also be a risky maneuver the 49ers might want to avoid.
Roster: Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford, Jarrett Kingston
Practice Squad: Brandon Parker, Sebastian Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon
Defensive Line
Eight defensive linemen would be light for the 49ers, who have often kept 10 in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era, especially after Floyd and Gross-Matos left Friday’s game with knee injuries. It’s worth noting that a ninth, Kalia Davis, will be available at midseason when he returns from knee surgery and that the team can go deep on the practice squad, as we’ve done. There’s also room for the 49ers to add a defensive end if they see one they like on Wednesday’s waiver wire.
Roster: Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Robert Beal Jr.
Practice Squad: Evan Anderson, Shakel Brown, Alex Barrett
Linebackers
This is tough to predict, so we went with some clues from Friday’s game. First, Flannigan-Fowles started at middle linebacker and played through the first half. Robinson, meanwhile, was on all of the kick-coverage teams in the first half and has looked good in that role throughout the preseason. We suspect the 49ers will be able to get Bethune, their last pick in this year’s draft, onto the practice squad.
Roster: Fred Warner, De’Vondre Campbell, Curtis Robinson, Dee Winters, Jalen Graham, Tatum Bethune
Practice Squad: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Cornerbacks
Do the 49ers opt for experience in Ya-Sin or with youth in Luter? In this scenario, they go for both and keep six cornerbacks, one more than they had to begin last season. It makes sense considering the cornerback group is the deepest it’s been in years.
Roster: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Isaac Yiadom, Darrell Luter Jr., Samuel Womack III
Practice Squad:
Safeties
Yes, this group is awfully thin, especially considering Brown is a second-year player and Mustapha’s a rookie. We think Talanoa Hufanga (ACL), who has yet to resume practicing, might begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, in which case he’d be available starting in October. The 49ers also have the option of elevating Walker on game days.
Roster: Ji’Ayir Brown, Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum, Malik Mustapha
Practice Squad: Tracy Walker III, Jaylen Mahoney
Special Teams
We think the team will stick with Wishnowsky over preseason sensation Pressley Harvin III. But it’s worth noting Wishnowsky’s cap number ($2.8 million) in relation to Harvin’s ($1.06 million). At kick returner, the 49ers drafted Guerendo with that role in mind. His 93-yard return Friday likely reassures them they made the right choice.
Roster: Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper
PR: Jacob Cowing
KR: Isaac Guerendo
Players on the Bubble
An edge rusher who could put a stamp on making the roster, plus competition and linebacker and the offensive line that needs to sort itself out.
Final Thoughts
The 49ers must trim their roster down from 90 players to 53 by Tuesday, Aug. 27. The starting positions are, for the most part, set. Paging Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk. The preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders will be the last case for players to make before the tough decisions are made from 90 players to 53 for the 49ers.
Which 49ers players need to step up on Friday to help secure their spot on the roster?
Alex Barrett
Barrett has been phenomenal in the preseason. With the cut-down coming for the defensive line group, will they prioritize EDGE depth over interior defensive linemen? Barrett has been a part of the organization for the last few years and has shown out this preseason with the highest defensive grade of any 49ers defender (90.3), and six pressures, four hurries, a sack, a QB hit, and a batted pass on 41 pass rushing snaps. Another strong performance for Barrett will add to his case and make his presence on the 53-man undeniable. Jonathan Garvin has the second-most pressures from the EDGE group, with two pressures and two hurries on 29 pass-blocking snaps.
Curtis Robinson/Jalen Graham/Tatum Bethune
Fred Warner and De’Vondre Campbell are locked in, with Dre Greenlaw recovering from his injury in the Super Bowl. Dee Winters has drawn high praise from the coaching staff and 49ers players during the offseason and seems safe to make the roster. Which of Curtis Robinson, Tatum Bethune, Jalen Graham, or Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles will make the initial cut down?
Last season, the 49ers kept six linebackers. Flannigan-Fowles was one of the six, but the 49ers will look to replace Oren Burks with Robinson, Bethune, and Graham pushing each other for a roster spot. Bethune leads the team in total tackles with ten in two games. Robinson and Graham are third and fourth, following Malik Mustapha with eight and seven tackles each. Robinson and Graham are tied for the team lead with six defensive stops, and Bethune is tied with Alex Barrett for second with five. Flannigan-Fowles is looking to make the roster based on how long he has stuck around. Will the 49ers value his time and special teams contributions in favor of upside from Robinson or Graham?
The offensive line battle
Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, and Colton McKivitz should be the 49ers starting offensive line when the Jets travel to Levi’s Stadium in Week 1. Banks is unclear due to his pinky injury, and Williams has to return to the facility. Spencer Burford is poised to return as well, and Jon Feliciano will begin the season on injured reserve. Jaylon Moore has a spot on the roster as Williams’ replacement. Jarrett Kingston, Nick Zakelj, Chris Hubbard, Brandon Parker, Sebastian Gutierrez, and Isaac Alarcon are fighting for two spots. If I had a guess, I’d lean Hubbard and Zakelj making the roster, with Kingston and Parker landing on the practice squad.
The 49ers must trim their roster down from 90 players to 53 by Tuesday, Aug. 27. Here are the players I believe will make the team.
Who Makes the Team?
Quarterbacks: Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen
Running Backs: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo, Kyle Juszczyk
Wide Receivers: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley, Ricky Pearsall
Tight Ends: George Kittle, Eric Saubert, Brayden Willis, Cam Latu
Offensive Linemen: Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford, Jarrett Kingston
Defensive Linemen: Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Robert Beal Jr.
Linebackers: Fred Warner, De’Vondre Campbell, Curtis Robinson, Dee Winters, Jalen Graham, Tatum Bethune
Cornerbacks: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Isaac Yiadom, Darrell Luter Jr., Samuel Womack III
Safeties: Ji’Ayir Brown, Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum, Malik Mustapha
Special Teams: Jake Moody, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper
PR: Jacob Cowing
KR: Isaac Guerendo
Who Gets Cut?
Quarterback: Tanner Mordecai
Running Back: Cody Schrader
Wide Receivers: Danny Gray, Ronnie Bell
Tight End: Logan Thomas
Offensive Linemen: Brandon Parker, Sebastian Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon
Defensive Linemen: Evan Anderson, Shakel Brown, Alex Barrett
Linebackers: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Cornerbacks:
Safeties: Tracy Walker III, Jaylen Mahoney
Special Teams: Pressley Harvin III
This is just a prediction, and the 49ers may make some surprising decisions. However, I believe this is a good representation of the talent on the roster and the decisions the team will likely make.
Grant Cohn
Grant Cohn has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily since 2011. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Santa Rosa Press Democrat where he wrote the Inside the 49ers blog and covered famous coaches and athletes such as Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick and Patrick Willis. In 2012, Inside the 49ers won Sports Blog of the Year from the Peninsula Press Club.
In 2020, Cohn joined FanNation and began writing All49ers. In addition, he created a YouTube channel which has become the go-to place on YouTube to consume 49ers content. Cohn’s channel typically generates roughly 3.5 million viewers per month, while the 49ers’ official YouTube channel generates roughly 1.5 million viewers per month. Cohn live streams almost every day and posts videos hourly during the football season.
Cohn is committed to asking the questions that 49ers fans want answered, and providing the most honest and interactive coverage in the country. His loyalty is to the reader and the viewer, not the team or any player or coach.
Cohn is a new-age multimedia journalist with an old-school mentality, because his father is Lowell Cohn, the legendary sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1979 to 1993. The two have a live podcast every Tuesday.
Grant Cohn grew up in Oakland and studied English Literature at UCLA from 2006 to 2010. He currently lives in Oakland with his wife.
