FULL 49ers Roster Review Before Training Camp – Strengths & Weaknesses | Krueger & Chapman

FULL 49ers Roster Review Before Training Camp – Strengths & Weaknesses | Krueger & Chapman

All right, good morning. Welcome to the day after the 4th of July. Let me see. 10 fingers, 10 toes. Everything’s in place. We blew up a lot of stuff last night, but um we’re here to discuss it. No, we’re not going to discuss that. We’re going to talk a little niner and Chapman’s in the house. We both been vacationing for the last couple weeks. It’s going to be a good one. Join us right now. It’s the Krug Show meets the John Chapman experience. It’s going to be great. [Music] Off and running. July the 5th. Hope everybody’s having a great day. It’s Saturday, July the 5th. Beautiful summer day out here on the West Coast. 1012 West Coast time, 112 East Coast. Hope everybody’s having a great day. Welcome to the Krue Show brought to you by Pig and a Pickle, the best barbecue in all of Northern California. Check them out. They’re in Emeryville. They’re in Ca Madera. They’re open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. Um, tell them Damon and Mary sent you. Go say hi. Get some brisket. Tell them that Krug sent you. I should say I should say go say hi to Damon and Mary. Um, but also follow us. We’re also brought to you by Claw Daddy Arcades. They’re a great follow on IG@claw_daddy Arcades. And they got a location opening this summer in Capola Mall. Another location opening this summer in Vicelia Mall. As I said, follow them on Instagram, claw_daddy arcades, and find a location near you. And thanks to Learn Key, Upskill Academy. They’re fantastic. Um, we’ll talk more about them in a bit, but the links are in the description below for all of our sponsors. Thanks to all of them for sponsoring the Krug Show. John, how are you, man? How was how’s your summer break going?
Man, it’s going well. Traveling, seeing family, all that kind of stuff. And uh you know, after last night, we were out on the water um watching the fireworks, which was awesome. It was clear. And you know, after a little break, even my light went out this morning. So, I get out of practice and even the equipment starts to fail. But I’m here with the legend Larry Krueger and we’re talking 49ers roster. So, I’m pumped, man. Nowhere else I’d rather be.
Oh, man. I’m fired up. I’m fired up. And I’m fired up for camp because I really, you know, last year left such a bad taste in everybody’s mouth. Um, and the Niners are looking to wash it away and get on with a new season. And um, you know, and and there’s a lot of speculation on this one. Let’s be totally honest. NerS have a totally easy schedule. Um, but it is worth noting that the last two teams in the NFL that had the statistically easiest schedule finished with losing records. So, um, that speaks volumes to the parody that exists in the NFL in 2025. So, yeah, they have an easy schedule, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. And, um, they went one and five in the division. And, um, some people think Arizona and the Rams and Seahawks may be better. So, you know, one and five in the division. Is that gonna are they gonna have a recurrence of that or are they going to be like they were the two previous years where they kind of own the division? Um I think that’s a big question. You got a huge question uh with no Debo, no IU. Can they can do they have weapons offensively? Is the line good enough? Is Brock Perie the Brock Pury from last year? Is he the guy from the previous two years? Is the Dline good enough? Is the linebacker crew deep enough? Um there’s a bunch of new faces in the secondary. 10 new DBs. Um, does, you know, do we have some guys or is it just a bunch of, you know, waiverwire type guys that really aren’t all that good? So, I think this camp, I would say if you’re a Niner fan, you you should follow what people are saying coming out of this training camp because we don’t know what the story is going to be. It’s yet to be written. And, you know, you talk about the strength of schedule and all those things. based off of last year. And so all those teams that you’re playing that were quote unquote the worst statistical strength of schedule or whatever, those teams got better because they had higher draft picks. They had a lot more cap resources and free agency. So yeah, is it a easy schedule compared to the past? 100%. But the key thing that you talked about, if you go one and five in the division, nothing else matters. Every single team in the NFL has the exact same goal when they’re starting out. We got to win our division. That’s first and foremost in the 49er schedule. You start out week one with the Seattle Seahawks. And so at Seattle, so you’re on the road there, I you’ve got to take care of the division first and foremost. I I think everybody has hope in the NFC West right now, even the Cardinals, who have not had really any success in a long time, but they beat the 49ers twice last year. So, you’ve got to change some of those things. And probably the biggest number one addition or change is the ability to finally stop the run. Now, it’s a bunch of rookies you’re relying on on that defensive line, linebacker group, even secondary, but that was the Achilles Hill last year. Stopping the run in the fourth quarter. Uh you were dead last in the NFL and fourth quarter points allowed under Nick Sorenson. You bring back Robert Salah. Is that going to be enough to hold on to some of those leads? Because you had a lead over the Rams in both games that you lost. You had a lead um over the Cardinals in the first game that you lost and you had a lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter that you lost as well. So that’s four losses right there. There was only one game and that was the week 18 game against the Cardinals where you really weren’t in the game in the fourth quarter. So can you start to close out some of those? And you even heard Kyle Shanahan say multiple times, we thought we were going to close out those games in the division and that was the difference in, you know, picking 11th overall versus, you know, trying to be in that playoff hunt. They just didn’t look good down the stretch. I mean, to me, the game that I think about when I think of last year, you say, “What game comes to mind?” Well, it’d be easy to point to some of those late season games where, you know, Buffalo with the snow and Green Bay and it’s like it’s But to me, that wasn’t where this season was defined. I think of two things. I think of one I think of um well, the one that really comes to mind is the Gino Smith fourth quarter running for a touchdown. um on the Ner’s home field in a divisional game where the Niners had nothing in the gas tank at all in the fourth quarter of that game. Couldn’t rush the passer. Devandre Campbell couldn’t tackle uh uh Gino when he ran. Um it was some of the worst defense I’ve seen since this regime has been constructed in 2017. Um so yeah, they got a lot of question marks. Can they can they turn it around in the division? Can they turn it around period? Or is this the beginning of the end of this regime? I mean, if if if the 49ers go and win 12 or 13 games like Albert Brerier and some of these other guys are saying, then yeah, uh 2024 season is going to be a footnote. Um but if the 49ers in 2025 are a five or six win football team, you know, um then 2024 is just a little foreshadowing and um probably the regime is not going to last too much longer. I would I would guess if they have another five and six win season. People would say, “Oh, Shanahan and Lynch to say they’re on the hot seat is ridiculous.” Okay. Yeah, you’re you’re kind of right if you want to be a creature of the moment, but last year happened. It wasn’t like, uh, that was just a dream. No, the last year happened. You won six games. If you follow that up with another five- win type team, uh, type season, um, with an easy schedule, yeah, the heat is going to be on. Um, as what Glen Fry used to sing. All right, somebody’s asking the question, when is camp the Smitty? He says, “Um, when is camp?” Camp is July 15th, the rookies report. So, we’re 10 days away from that. The veterans report on July the 22nd, and I believe the first practice will probably be shortly thereafter, the 23rd or 24th. And then it’s on. And then it’s on. Um, the Niners will travel to the Raiders for one uh joint practice. They will host the Broncos for a couple joint practices before their preseason tilts with those teams. Other than that, they’ll be in Santa Clara all summer long. All right, let’s get right into it. Do you want to start, John? Do you prefer to start start on offense or start on defense? Which what direction?
Let’s stick with defense because that’s what we were kind of talking about and, you know, allowing those fourth quarter returns. So, let let’s go through that and see if they improved or not and where the biggest questions are.
All right, let’s hit defense. And, you know, we’ll start with the defensive front. And the bottom line is the 49ers did not get any pass rush down the stretch. They had none. They John was totally right. They couldn’t stop the run, but then in the last 6 weeks of the year, they couldn’t rush the passer. Um and when you can’t rush the passer and you can’t stop the run, you’re really not going to win any games. And for the most part, they didn’t. Um but in the off season, they have poured resources into their defensive line. They drafted Muel Williams in the first round. They drafted Alfred Collins, who’s yet to get on the field in the second round. He’s starting to concern me. I got to admit that. Uh CJ West was drafted in the fourth round. Uh Sebastian Valdez was signed after the draft. And then Bryce Huff was signed as a free agent or uh traded for um I should say um just recently. And so you’ve got Huff, Williams, Collins, West uh and Valdez added to your defensive line. What how much confidence do you have in this defensive line? Are you more concerned about the tackles or the ends? Usually they go with 10, which would be five defensive ends, five defensive tackles generally. Um, what do you think? What do you think of the D line?
I I think it’s designed to stop the run and you got a little extra Parmesan cheese at the end with Bryce Huff who could come in and kind of give you some versatility in the pass rush. But make no mistake, whether you’re talking Mikuel Williams, whether you’re talking Alfred Collins, CJ West, your three biggest additions, they’re all run stuffers. Now, the hope is some of those guys can evolve into pass rushers, but it does seem like the philosophy is look, Robert Sol going to help stop the run, force third and longs. That’s going to create positive pass rush opportunities for some of these guys that are quote unquote not true pass rushers. And hopefully some of those guys can bud into Alfred Collins, I think, is the one that probably has the clearest pathway to being a pass rusher, but like you said, he’s not signed. He’s one of 30 second round picks who still have not signed their contract. And plus, you still have the calf issue. Uh so like is it just a contract thing? Is it the muscle thing? Like what’s going on there? Uh what’s going to happen before camp? He’s supposed to report in 10 days. There is no movement in the NFL in those second round picks. No, there’s two out of 32 second round picks have signed in the NFL. Like that is we’re at an impass here. And so like that that’s weird. But I do like that you had a goal in mind. We’re going to stop the run and force teams to be onedimensional and try to go for those third and longs and then we’ll allow them to develop into pass rushers. And Muel Williams who probably the biggest question mark on pass rush productivity. Well, you’re going to kick him inside. We just talked about Gino Smith rushing for that game-winning touchdown in San Francisco. Well, Eteros Motto was playing on the inside there and quit. Like he was trying to get out the play before. He was tired. He was tapping his helmet. And Nick Sorson said, “Nope, you got to stay out there.” They snapped the ball. He stood straight up, took two steps and watched him and Leonard Floyd who were just gassed. Now you have a little bit more of a rotation. You’ve got younger guys out there. It is still there, but now he’s going to be a rotational piece instead of playing as much as he was that game. So, you’re hoping that the depth can translate to more energy and there’s more third and longs. My biggest question, Larry, is man, you’re rev you’re you’re relying on a lot of rookies to grow and develop from college to the NFL in one year in one off season. That’s a little problematic to me. I wish there was a little bit more veteran depth at the defensive tackle position and defensive end position because right now you really just got Bosa and Huff. Outside of that, it’s it’s a bunch of young puffs. So, we’ll have to see how it translates. But, it’s not a like a lot of people are projecting like, oh, the Dline’s back. And I’m just like, hold on. That’s a lot of rookies and a lot of translation that you haven’t seen before. I’m not sure you’re going to go three for three with Muel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West. I like to think that. And I could see that. But NFL history says, man, you’re probably not going to go three for three with those picks.
Well, I mean I mean, think about think about um first, you know, any pick, forget what round. You’ve got on one end of the spectrum, they’re awesome, right? They’re starting immediately and they’re one of your best players that you drafted a star, right? That doesn’t happen all that often, right? where you al you draft a guy, you put him in the lineup and he’s better than everybody else you have on your team and he’s your best player, he’s your star. You drafted Micah Parsons, now he’s your best. You know, whatever. You drafted Patrick Willis, now he’s your best. It doesn’t happen a whole lot. So, that’s the extreme on one end, right? Then you’ve got the, hey, we drafted him and he’s not the best player on our team, but he is a starter right away. Then we drafted him and he’s not a starter right away, but you know what? he’s a rotation player right away and he’s doing some positive things. Then there’s we drafted him right away and he’s not really ready to be a rotation player. Then we’ve drafted him right away but he’s hurt and he’s not on the field and you know we still like him and his potential that’s why we drafted him but it’s a miles away from being a star. You know what I’m saying? These are all possibilities along the road for rookies. uh including, hey, he played three snaps in mini camp and sucked and they cut him. You know, it could be as extreme like that or it could be extreme like he’s the best player on your team and he’s going to Canton. So, a lot of times people are like, “Oh, can you hit? Can you hit?” Well, the hit, quote unquote, hit are all the extreme wins. And in reality, there’s so many options that are south of hit that could be come into play here that it’s not quite like, hey, you know, it’s 50/50. It’s like it’s more like 20% you’re going to truly hit and the guy’s a star and a starter. Um, and I would say, you know, there’s at least 40 or 50% chance that he’s a work in progress. You like him, he’s not ready. You like him, but he’s hurt. You like whatever. You know what I’m saying? Um, the ners, are you more concerned about the interior or about the outside on that D line?
I’m more concerned about the interior depth. That That’s a problem to me because you have guys like Jordan Elliott who Kyle Shanahan referenced as one of his best run defenders last year, which I thought was insane to me. I do think, you know, Jordan Elliot’s a good player, but it’s, you know, three or four bad plays, one explosive amazing play. the consistency or lack thereof is an issue. Kevin Given is somebody you’re going to have to rely on and he’s a he’s a true like technique driven three tech that can anchor against a double team and plays with great technique but he’s an undrafted free agent like you don’t have again this is dependent upon CJ West and Alfred Collins hitting as you just said there’s not a lot of space behind them Kalia Davis like who are you relying on if one or two of those guys don’t pan out and I I do think that they will pan out I have a lot of confidence in Alfred Collins. I I think that that was I loved that pick. I know you weren’t big on that pick, but I loved it. But now that it’s in question, he hasn’t signed his deal, still the calf issue, all those things. But I think they’ll be able to stop the run.
But I don’t know who the pass rusher is besides kicking in Muel Williams besides like Euros Motto’s playing tackle, whatever. Who’s rushing the passer? So that’s great. you’re going to stop the run. And I like that they addressed that need fullfledg. Like they went all in on that. Somebody got to hit the quarterback. I don’t know where it’s going to come from on the inside.
When they paid $20 million for Hargrave because they felt they needed an interior pass rusher. Then they got rid of him because he wasn’t very good. Um he wasn’t worth the money. But as you said, who’s going to rush the passer from the inside? Now Jordan Elliott’s interesting. The Niners signed Jordan Elliot to a two-year $7 million deal last off season and he struggled. He only had seven pressures and you said Shanahan said he was one of his better run defenders. Well, PFF doesn’t think so because his run stop rate was 4.6%. That was tied for the ninth worst among interior defensive linemen with at least 200 runs defense snaps. So he, you know, um I mean um his his his average depth of tackle for Jordan Elliot was 1.6 yards, tied for 12th best. So he was able to corral um you know, when he was able to bring down running backs, he did it, you know, without them getting big yardage. Let’s talk about though about the Niners would save 2.94 million against the cap if they move on from Elliott. Um, I I hear you though as far as this depth chart at tackle. It’s like, okay, so first of all, my first question is who starts? Who are the starters? Is it Jordan Elliot and Kevin Given, and you’re going with the old school guys? Is it CJ West and Alfred Collins and you’re going with the the the guys you just invested in and you’re hoping become the guys? Is it Evan Anderson and Kalia Davis, the guys who put together maybe the best interior film from last year over the course of the full year? I don’t know who who the starters are and I don’t know who the pass rushers are either because West is a run defender, Collins is a run defender, Anderson’s a run defender. I think those are your three best tackles on paper. Given is a pass rusher, Kalia Davis is a pass rusher. I think Valdez might be a pass rusher. Yeah, I like Valdez, too. And I think there’s a very good chance Valdez takes either Given or Elliot or Kalia Davis’s spot. Um I think that’s going to happen. But yeah, interior interior is an issue for sure. Um as far as and and I’ll tell you my my thought on Collins. I’ll defer to you. You watch Texas. You liked him. Um here’s the one thing about him. He played all the games at Texas, so I was not really that concerned, but he’s been in a walking boot, unable to practice since before the draft. They said it was a calf, but anytime you hear calf, I’m always worried about Achilles. Um, and then when I saw the interview that he did, I it was the one rookie interview that I did wasn’t there for. Uh, and I just happened to see it the other day on the Niner website or Niner YouTube channel. Um, and he was he was like, “Hey, who do you model model your game after?” And he gave it’s like any answer is a good answer, right? Pretty much, unless the guy’s terrible. Um, he’s like, “I don’t watch a lot of NFL football.” That’s what he said. “I don’t watch a lot of NFL football.” So, I mean, it’s not a prerequisite to play in the NFL that you watch a lot of NFL football, but I don’t know that that makes me nervous. Uh the fact that he hasn’t practiced that he looks like if he played he, you know, he’s got just unbelievable ability. Almost like too good to be true. Too big, too fast, too strong, too. I mean, he’s just unbelievable prospect on paper. And it just I don’t know, maybe it’s because he’s so good of a prospect on paper, it has me worried, but he hasn’t gotten on the field. I asked Mayoko about this earlier this week. I said, “How much of a concern is it?” He’s like, I think it has to be a concern. So, you know, you’re you know, Texas ball. Should we Is is Collins a concern or is he going to once camp starts he’s going to be this wrecking ball and we’re going to laugh and at the even the notion that we were concerned? I I I do think you have to be concerned. And again, I am a Texas guy. I was, you know, before day two of the NFL draft, I tweeted out what I wanted the 49ers big board to be. Alfred Collins was my number one before the 33rd pick went. Like I wanted Alfred Collins badly and my favorite thing about him is he’s his best in the biggest moments of the biggest games. Third and one, fourth and goal, fourth quarter. Alfred Collins is the guy and over I mean played in 64 out of 65 games like you talked about. Like he is a guy. Now he was a two gapper run stuffer. like that was what they used him for and they they got their pressure off the edge and they basically told him, “Look, dude, your job is not to rush the passer. He he was a situational run stuff in player and his big impact was deflecting passes, passes batted down, things like that.” That that’s how he contributed there. I am concerned, but you asked who the starters were. If I had it my way, the two starters would be
I I’d go with Alfred Collins, assuming he’s healthy, and Evan Anderson base situation. Those are the two guys I want out there. Just stop the damn run. Then rotate in whenever it’s third and whatever else, you could keep Alfred Collins out there. But who I think the starters will be, I I think it’s going to be Jordan Elliot and the second round pick, Alfred Collins. Uh they love Jordan Elliott. I don’t know why he didn’t even get a sack last year. two quarterback hits only. He’s not good against the run, but like they love that dude. And he came out in the draft, the same draft as Javon Kinlaw, and Chris Cuserk was high on him then. And so it’s just like one of those things like why can’t I quit you? Like they love that dude. And I I don’t I don’t see it. So my guess is Jordan Elliot and Alfred Collins will start, but man, I want Evan Anderson to get some more snaps early. Our uh our lads agrees with you, John. Um, they have Jordan Elliot and Alfred Collins right here. Um, starting starting on the defensive line. Yeah. No, our Gods is a fun, you know, I love our I mean, if you’re looking for depth charts of the NFL that are complete and up to-date to the minute, I mean, this is it right here. Um, it’s even better than NFL.com. I mean, I’m not even joking.
Yeah.
Um, Jordan Elliot, Alfred Collins. I guess I would say my starters have to include CJ West because I I think West is really good, but but he doesn’t get off the ball and he’s I think he’s better against the run than the pass. And getting off the ball is a big part about being an NFL defensive lineman. It’s hard to win in the NFL if you don’t get off the football. And CJ West doesn’t get off the football that well. I mean, that’s the downside. Now, I’m not concerned at all because that’s a refinement that will happen at the pro level. That’s a that’s a you know Chris will get him faster off the ball. It’s just about timing and desire and learning tricks of the trade and how to get off the ball. But once CJ West starts to win off the ball and get off the ball quick, then I think you’re going to see a dominant player because he’s winning. He’s winning despite not getting off the ball. Um if you watch his Indiana film at least. All right, let’s talk about the defensive ends for a second. So you So my five defensive tackles, by the way, are Jordan Elliot, Alfred Collins, CJ West, Pro Evan Anderson, and then I think it’s a threeman battle between Kalia Davis, Kevin Given, and Sebastian Valdez. And I I I think there’s a chance Valdez gets that job. I I would not be shocked if there, you know, now if there’s an injury, uh maybe, you know, two of those guys get the job. Heck, if there’s two injuries, all three of those guys are going to wind up making the team. But, um, yeah, I I would say of the five defensive tackles, Collins, West, Elliot for sure, Evan Anderson for sure. Those four, and then Kalia, Given, and Valdez battling for the fifth spot. As far as the defensive ends, you know, you need five. And you got Bosa, Mikuel Williams, Bryce Huff, Yatier Gross, Matoss, those four. And then I think everybody else, the other four guys, Be Garvin, Terron Jackson, and Sam Aquainu, I think they battle uh for one spot. I think Aquainu’s got the got the upper hand on it. Um but that’s kind of how I see the defensive ends. What do you think of the defensive ends? I mean, there’s a lot of speculation. Some people are still speculating the Niners may offload you Gross Moss for cap reasons. I think if they were going to do it, they would have done it by now. Um, so I I you know I I I think your gross Moss is a you know I think John Lynch is very invested in Yir Gross Moss uh showing something. So what do you think John? I as the defensive ends Muel Huff Bosa Yir Gross Mats do you agree that that it’s be Garvin Aquainu and Terron Jackson for that last spot or do you think um Aquainu is in front of Gross Moss? Yeah, I I don’t think I’m a huge Samo guy and I trust him
a lot more at the defensive end spot than Eterross Mottos, but because and again, you know, if we look at with the context we just provided, there’s a major question mark at pass rusher at defensive tackle. Well, it gross models helps you there. He I think he would be the one in the NASCAR package to kick into tackle before Muel Williams even early on. So like I I think that’s there but from a true end perspective Sam O was already in starting reps you know like Bosa was injured you know whatever else but like it was Sam O and Leonard Floyd starting ends a few times last year and so I I think that there’s a clear you’ve got your top four Bosa Huff uh Mikuel Williams like those are your top three then after that you’ve got your Turos motto Samo Robert Bill that’s somebody that I big name.
You know, he was drafted as a speed rusher out of Georgia. He’s been the exact opposite. They they flipped it halfway through the season. You look at those last four games, he’s only playing run snaps. Now, it turns out he’s a pretty damn good run stuffer and sets the edge incredibly well. Not why you drafted him and they were so frustrated because he couldn’t rush the passer for beans. But it’s like, well, wait a second. This dude set the edge pretty damn good. They had no choice but to play him with all the injuries last year. So now like, okay, well, we got this Robert Beal guy who is a stud specialteamer. You only had really two to three quality special teamers last year. Well, Robert Beal was one of those and he could set the run, which Robert Solid cares more about than anything. So I I think it’s a clear to find like those are your guys. And then you know, Garvin and Terron Jackson, those are your practice squads. You pro neither one of them probably make it. One of them clears, you bring them back. But man, I this end room I think is kind of decided. Like I I’m not really seeing much competition here for who’s making the 53 and who’s not. Something could change, but I think it’s pretty clearly defined. I wish there was one more guy fighting for that 53. I do wish there was a little bit more veteran presence here, but I got Bosa Huff, Eteros, Monos, Mikuel Williams, Sam O. Robert Beiel. I think they keep six. And they they’ve flipped here a few times where they’ve kept five ins, six tackles. They kept six tackles, five ends, and they’ve done five and five because you they always manipulate the roster with pup and all that kind of different whatever. But I think you need all six, especially whenever you bring in Bryce Huff, who is just going to get 20 snaps a game as a pass rusher only. Like I think you need those other guys, especially with Muel Williams kicking inside pass rush. Eteros Models kicking inside pass rush. like I I this is a position where I think you keep six personal.
I I wouldn’t be I wouldn’t hate it. Um to me it’s such an important aspect of football is being able to move the opposing quarterback off his spot that yeah if if if Beal looks like a ton and Aquinu looks good. Yeah, I’d keep them both. I wouldn’t cut the same way I there’s there’s certain positions you just don’t cut. You don’t cut quality cover corners and you don’t qu cut really dangerous uh pass rushers because that’s where the game is won I think. So you know Beal I I will say this it is now or it is never for Robert Beal. I mean you don’t get forever. He was a fifth round pick in 2023. It’s now July of 2025. It’s it’s go time. He’s either going to show something and be a part of this thing or he’s going to get cut. Uh if he gets cut, Eagles are claiming him day one like he’s exactly what they want.
Oh, and and they, you know, they have the rest of his team over college team, you know, right there on that on that same Georgia on that same uh Eagle line, all those Georgia players. Um all right, let’s move to linebacker. Um you know, it’s to me the best battle of camp is going to be D. Winters against Nick Martin for that number two linebacker spot next to Fred Warner. Uh a lot of people expect Winters to win it. Um, I would say, um, you know, I like Nick I like Nick Martin. I think Winters, um, you know, Winters is nice, right? He’s fast. He’s athletic. Um, he just is not he doesn’t really when when he hits people, they don’t go down. You know, they just don’t go down. It’s like uh he he’s not a solo he doesn’t have a lot of power in his tackling. He’s very fast. Um, he’s a good coverage player and he’s a good sideline to sideline player, but I think Nick Martin is a little bit better, a little bit more solid tackler and the best part of his game versus the weakest part of the game. The other like contrasting styles. Yeah, very well said, Larry.
So, you got Winters, you got W War Warner, you got Nick Martin. What whoever starts, they’re all going to be on the team. Those three and you probably have three others that you’re looking for. And I would say it’s Tatum Bethune who looks great, Luke Gford who’s signed to be a special teamer. And um then it’s going to come down to that last spot and I think it could be Stone Blandon, it could be Chaz Serat, it could be Jaylen Graham, it could be Curtis Robinson. I mean, um you know, they’re all going to battle. Curtis looked great last year, but then he had a very serious injury. He’s a tremendous guy. Their Walter Payeyton uh you know um candidate for last year. Chaz Serat came from the Jets, so he’s kind of handpicked. He was a former quarterback who’s got great athletic ability and is kind of learning the position. You have Jaylen Graham, who was a seventh round pick in 2023, and it’s time, it’s now or never for him. And then you got Stone Blandon who was like second in the SEC in tackles last year. Pretty productive player. And when I talked to Johnny Holland about him, he didn’t it wasn’t like, yeah, you know, he’s just a guy. It was like, “We really like Stone Bllandon and he gets better every single day and I haven’t seen him make the same mistake twice and I really, you know, so Johnny’s talking him up.” What do you think? How’s the linebacker core going to shake out? Well, this is Robert Solid’s position and you got to understand he brought in not one, not two, not three, four brand new players to a deep linebacker room already. There were already bodies there, a lot of young guys there. He went and got his guys and yeah, I I’m with you. Whoever wins the Dwinners, Nick Martin competition, whatever you want to call that, that’s fine. The loser will be a starter at the number three spot. I I think those are the three guys. Um, and so, however that shakes out, that’s fine. Tatum Bethun, he’s shown a lot of promise and improved so much. And again, if Robert Sol is serious about stopping the run, well, nobody’s better than Tatum Beth at that. Like, that’s just what he does. But man, Stone Bllandon, I cannot find a way where this guy is not around. I I just can’t do it. I I’m I am Now, John, you talked to him, right? You didn’t you have him on the on your show um right after the draft or am I thinking of somebody else?
No, that was that was us and it was awesome. It was like two days before his wedding and he jumps on our show and like chats it up and has a good time and all he talked about was film film film leadership leadership character character character toughness like this guy is like Johnny Holland old school you remember your question like Johnny Holland’s like I played quarterback too you know like
I play said that
and so like that was awesome interview man and so like I think they love this guy they really really do now Luke Gford’s going to on this roster. He’s got 600,000 guarantee, second most at the position.
And Chaz Serat, that’s a Robert Solid. They had the hard knocks. I don’t know if you remember seeing that one where he stepped in for the Jets. He’s like, “That’s my guy.” And then he brought him here like there’s this is a rough rough. And if I’m sitting there and I’m Jaylen Graham or I’m Curtis Robinson who’s probably going to be stashed on the pup and maybe be there all year and say basically like, “Look dude, we’re going to stash you. If you want to go elsewhere, release you on an injury statement. But they love him. Walter Peyton, man of the year nominee. Like, so this is you’ve got a lot of bodies. And who’s going to be the odd one out? Jaylen Graham, I don’t think has a chance, which I hope he hears this or sees this and balls out and proves this wrong because I like Jaylen Graham a lot, but I think he’s just a little too slow. You can’t be undersized and slow. But man, you’ve got depth. This is the deepest position on the defense by a mile. It’s going to be fun, man. This is murderer’s row cuz you’re you’re cutting two to three good players. You got I mean you got some good players there. Um there’s probably going to be at least one injury, right? Because it’s linebacker and these guys, you know, the collisions is the name of the game. So, let’s say we got to come up with six. Um it’s Fred, it’s Winters, it’s Martin. Those three for sure.
Lukeford Gford for sure. Uh, once again, I did a video on this about the money aspect, and the money aspect plays a role. Gford is going to be on the team. So, that’s four. So, you need two more. I think Bethune to me looks like a ton. And then I would say Serat is likely to make it just on the solid connection. So, there’s six. So, I think those are your six. Now, if there’s an injury, and I do expect there will be one, there’s an opening for either Curtis Robinson, Jaylen Graham, or Stone Blandon, but I’m with you. I think it’s going to be um there will be an injury, but it will be Stone Blandon over Curtis Robinson and and Jaylen Graham. So, and I don’t know if Robinson, you know, will be on the pup list or how it will work out, but I I I think that’s that’ll be my guess. That’ll be my guess how the linebacker spot is paired down. All right, let’s let’s move to the secondary because there’s a lot of You said there’s a lot of new linebackers. There’s even more new DBs. There’s 10 new Here are the new DBs. Trey Brown, Upton Stout, Jason Pinock, Richie Grant, Maris Seagull, Dallas Flowers, Son Neil, Derek Canteen, Jacob Robinson, and then I don’t remember seeing Trey Avery last year, but he’s not considered a new player, so obviously they had him last year. So, okay. So, let’s start. There’s usually 10 DBs, right? Usually 10 DBs. Five. Um, and and it the Niners many years have gone with six corners and four safeties. Most teams go with five and five. Uh, some teams go with nine DBs. Uh, you know, maybe five corners and four safeties. Um, why don’t we start at safety? So, this is kind of interesting because you got Jaier Brown and Malik Mustafa on the one line. Um, Mustafa is looks great as far as coming back. He seems like he’s not that far away, but who knows? And then you have Brown who’s coming off a down year. There’s a lot of Niner fans that don’t believe in him anymore. Um, I’m not one of them. I I actually do believe in the kid. I think he’s got a there’s a lot there. But then the Niners went out and signed Richie Grant and Jason Pinoch. I like both those signings and they drafted Maris Seagull who, you know, runs really, really well. And um actually had a couple big hits in the East West Shrine game that I saw. So what do you think? I mean, do they keep four safeties? And what does that mean for George ODM, who’s a special teamer? I mean, it seems to me that um George ODM, who’s a valued member of the special teams, looks like he’s set up to be cut here. Well, how how do you see safety? I I agreed with you, but he had a $1 million option on April 1st. And so, like whenever they kept adding all these safeties, I was like, “Oh, okay. ODM’s going to be gone.” April 1st comes and goes, and then we find out after the draft, oh, by the way, Malak Mustafa is hurt. Oh, by the way, Gier Brown’s hurt. Like so it was kind of like it was weird we weird and cryptic because man you you replaced ODM with the Pinnock and Richie Grant and like so like if you weren’t going to cut him you should have cut him a month ago but now you’ve got all these injuries and even Maris Seagull who you drafted he’s you know a little bit banged up as well. So, man, I I I don’t know because if you were going to cut ODM, which I thought was going to happen, you would have done it before April 1, you already kicked an extra million dollars against the cap. So, you might here’s where I think they might get depending on the timetables because let’s assume Malik Mustafa, Malik Mustafa is going to be on the pup. So, he doesn’t count. Okay. So, he’s not going to be one of your five,
which means what, John? How? That’s f four weeks or six weeks. Yeah, it’s it’s four weeks now. Uh and so yeah, they always are changing at four to six. And if I’m wrong, oh my gosh, I wish I could look that up right now. But that’s okay. Somebody on the you guys watching, help us out. Uh the
new If you’re in the chat and you know the answer to that one, feel free. I’ll
And I have no qualms saying I’m wrong all the time, even though I study this stuff. Uh
yeah, I mean we I mean some of these fine f find, you know, sometimes the fans do know more about some of these little little
100%. We very educated audience. Larry has my audience. Pick it up. Let’s go. Uh now, uh so anyway, so let’s say Malik doesn’t count. Okay, Gier Brown, that’s one. Jason Pennock’s getting a lot of guaranteed money. He’s making it. That’s two. Maris Seagull, three. George ODM, four. Richie Grant, five. Like that kind of that kind of works. I don’t know. What am I missing there? Well, I’ll say this. Pinoch and Grant on the practice field look like a ton. They really do. They both look really good. He’s starting week one.
They look really good, John. I mean, really good. I Pino is fast and covers and uh you know, he looks fast for a safety and he’s because he’s a former corner and Richie Grant was a second round pick and I know when people signed him when the Niners signed him, people were like, you know, special teamer. And I’m like, wait a second, this guy was a second round pick at Appalachian State like 45 minutes ago. Now he’s a career special teamer. Um, so I like Richie Grant and I’ve seen him look really good on the practice field. So I don’t know. I mean, I I I kind of feel like the violence that you see in football, a lot of it uh is is manifested at this position and it’s like almost like you you can never have enough of these guys. I I get the feeling that this safety discussion is much to do about nothing because I just think that they’re going to wind up needing all these guys. I mean, they Mustafa out hits his body. Brown the same. Um, ODM I think of as more of a special teamer, especially after watching Justin Jefferson blitz him in that Minnesota 97 yard uh, touchdown pass. But, um, you know, I I I don’t see them cutting anybody. I just I think it will kind of solve itself. I I think they’re going to need all these numbers and they may even need another one. Do are you in that camp that believes they should go sign a Simmons or a Blackman or one of these veteran safeties or do you think you would be happy going into camp with what you got? If you didn’t have Malik Mustafa coming back then yes I would. But like half of your problems right there and yeah Maris Seagull hopefully can develop into something we still don’t even know where he’s going to play whether that’s slot safety whatever like and Gier Brown like so you’ve got a lot of bodies there. Now, the 49ers have the cap space to sign anybody that they want to sign, but they’re going to roll that forward. So, I wouldn’t be upset with it, but I know Justin Simmons, and he is not going to sign anywhere unless he’s going to be starting all year. I don’t think the Niners can promise that. And so, that’s why, again, whenever you talk about signs or trade, it has to make sense for the team, has to make sense for the player. If you’re Justin Simmons, why would you come here? Hey man, we want you to come back until Malik Mustafa comes back and maybe Jier Brown and we’re going to rotate. Like, no, no, no. That ain’t how I play. I’ll wait. I know I’ll start somewhere. That That’s just kind of the way I see that. Not that it wouldn’t make your team better. Justin Simmons makes every single team better. So, from that standpoint, yeah, that’s not how the Niners roll at safety. It’s really really not. If you have another big injury or Malik isn’t ready to come back, but I think that he is going to be then maybe, but I don’t think they’re in that situation right now.
Yeah. Know, I I think they they think they’re pretty fortified with Grant and Pinoch and Seagull. Um Mustafa is obviously the best player back there. if Brown could bounce back and be really good. Now you’ve got one of the deepest positions on the team, right? You got Mustafa who’s a great young player and you got Jier Brown bouncing back and Grant and Pinoch and Seagull and ODM and you know as backups. I mean I mean that’s that’s that’s pretty good. All right, let’s talk about what I think is maybe the most interesting position on the defense and that’s the corner. Okay,
so most teams, as I said, go with 10 DBs, maybe four corn four safeties, six corners. you’re probably not going with more than six. Most teams go with five. Um I you know unlike the old days where your top corners played all the time, your number three corner was important and the number four and five corners weren’t important. In today’s modern game, the fourth and fifth corner are on the field all the time. You could make an argument that they’re some of the more important players you have. So you have to have depth at corner. The Niners have Renardo Green, Demo Lenor, and most likely either Trey Brown or Upton Stout to start at the Nickelback. I think it’ll probably wind up being Stout because I think Stout’s a better cover guy. Um, and why this is so interesting is because the NerS were, according to reports, showed a little interest in Damon Arnett last week. Now, he signed with the Texans. Um, so they didn’t get him, but the Niners and Packers both showed interest. The reason it’s so interesting is that Arnett has had a world of issues off the field. And to me, when I saw that, that tells me that John Lynch is absolutely trying desperately to find one more corner who can cover who doesn’t cost a lot of money. Like they could have gone after Ramsay, but they didn’t. Why? Cuz he cost a lot of money. They don’t want to pay a lot of money, but they want to find another corner and they’re willing to maybe even take a chance on some bad characters to find that player. So, that the Arnette interest to me was very eyeopening. Um, and I I don’t know. To me, this is also where, you know, where my eyes are going to be a lot this summer in camp. I’m going to spend a lot of time watching this position because you got Green, you got Lenor, and let’s say you got Stout as your starter starters. So, those three now you need to find three more out of Trey Brown, Trey Avery, Chase Lucas, Jacob Robinson, Derek Canteen, Dallas Flowers, Derell Lutter, and Siron Neil. Okay. So then I would say if you look at the money, right,
Son Neil is guaranteed 2.25 million. Um, and I think what that tells me is that he is absolutely going to be on this football team. So it’s Neil, Stout, Demo, and Renardo. So you have four of your, let’s say, five or six corners. You need to find one or two out of Trey Brown, Trey Avery, Chase Lucas, Jacob Robinson, Derrick Canteen, Derell Lutter, Dallas Flowers. I love Derell Lutter. So I that would be one of my guys. And I my sense of it is that Jacob Robinson from BYU might get the other job, but I don’t know. We’ll see. Trey Brown is also guaranteed 500 grand. Um Trey Avery is a very physical player. Uh, Canteen’s got great ball skills. Uh, Flowers has maybe some of the best size and speed. So, how do you see corner? I I feel like this is just a dart board approach. Like, they just literally are. Look, these are a lot of guys with high upside that kind of fit our scheme and one of them got to stick. And I do I’ve been clamoring since the end of free agency and the undrafted free agents and everything. Outside corners is the biggest need on this team. they go. I do like the fact that they’re willing to look into every single opportunity. You know, you talked about Damon Arnett and, you know, they ended up passing on him. You could have got him for pennies. I’m glad they passed on him, but I’m glad they looked into it. You remember they they met with the uh who was the Marshall Edge, you know, that had all the allegations and whatever in the draft, Mike Green. They met with him like four times. Yep.
So, like they’re but they didn’t draft him. They passed him in the first and second round. So, I like that they’re looking into it, but I also like that they’re being a little reserved. I do think they need an outside corner big time. Trey Brown would kind of be my inside track for winning that extra job, but he’s missed 39 games in the past four years. But his his his tape’s good and he can play it. He’s physical and whatever else, but it’s just, man, can he stay healthy? That that’s the question. And if he can’t then yeah I love Jacob Robinson but man you who’s playing nickel you spend a third round up stador Lenor is one of the best nickels in the NFL. Jacob Robinson probably just a nickel only early on. He’s pretty light added some weight you know but still I I don’t know what it is they’re trying to do because I feel like they’re trying to solve a problem that you finally solved in Diamador Lenor. Kyle Shanahan said last year at the end of the year closing out we want Demo to play one position. We think that he could be better if he plays one position and I’m cool with that. But it’s like you finally got a corner the first time in the Kyle Shanahan era that could stop the slot fade at Demador Lenor and now you’re just going to stick him back outside which from an NFL value standpoint I understand that but it’s just like ah I don’t know. You brought in four or five guys that can play nickel and I’m like dude you have the best nickel in the NFC West. like let him stay there. Um, so I I don’t know. How do you feel about the whole Demo inside out or just keep him out? Where do you think?
It’s really It’s perplexing, man, because on one hand I was like, “Hey, man, sign Ramsay and let Ramsay play outside and move Demo inside.” But I got to think that they want they now that they’ve got a sizable financial stake in Demo. I think they also now have some incentive to get him out of the box as an undersized run defender. Now, the name that’s out there that I would be interested in um is is the is um the former Cincinnati Bengal Mike Hilton. um he’s out there and you know Athlons um said the Niners you know they said they they listed Mike Hilton as a strong free agent option for the Niners. Uh Bleacher Report also supported the idea of the Niners adding uh uh Hilton adding the NerS to the Cowboys and Raiders as teams that have interest in Hilton. You know, if you sit there and say, “Why am I so hot to try on Hilton?” He would I mean, he is a run defender, man. He’s an excellent run defender. He’s got a great nose for the ball. I like this guy in college.
Last year, he earned a PFF defensive grade of 75.9 or higher in each of the past two seasons, I should say, last two years. His 91.7 run defense grade last year was a career best, and that also ranked him as the top defensive back in the NFL in that category. So, I mean, you’re talking about a guy who’s played the majority of his career in the nickel. He’s got 13 career picks, 11 and a half sacks off the edge, 56 passes defense. He’s played eight years in the NFL. He’s kind of a gamer. Um, I think this nickel spot is so freaking hard to play that you want to have multiple guys who can play it. And if I were the ners, I would take pressure off of Upton Stout. I know he says he’s ready and I know he looks ready and this and that, but I would go after a guy like Hilton and have and then and then just see can Hilton who looks good? Does Hilton look good? Great. Then he starts uh does you know Lenor look better and then maybe Lenor starts inside. Uh but I would like to have one more non rookie option and that doesn’t include Lenor. And I agree. I if you’re gonna commit to Lenor outside, I mean I Lenor was really good inside. Some people would say some would say, “Hey, keep him there.” But if you want to preserve his body a little bit more because you want to get him out of the box against the run. So that makes sense. But um but then if you’re only going to have a 5’8 rookie as the only thing that prevents him from playing the nickel, I don’t to me that’s that’s that’s like then you can’t really say that he’s going to be there all year. If you got a if you had a guy like Hilton now, you could be like, “Okay, Demo, we’re gonna we’re we’re going with Upton Stout or Hilton or Trey Brown, anybody but you inside, and we’re going to keep you outside.” And if that’s the plan, I like it more. But I I would like to see one more dependable. I It could be Asante Samuel. I know he’s had the neck problems and concussions and whatnot. Um, but I’d be I’ I’d like one more real corner, not a prospect, not a not a guy with great measurables. Um, somebody who’s actually a really good player. Agreed. 100%. And I I will say I haven’t even considered or entered into my argument the whole Demo keeping him outside to preserve his career. Uh, A+ by you, man. Uh, and so whenever you’re at camp, whenever it’s closed off to just the media, man, you got to tell us, are they moving Demo around or is he uh just sitting outside like that’s man, I I’m so curious. I I want to see how that’s going to play out.
Let’s jump to the offense. And before we do, let’s tell people um and we won’t spend as much time on the offense because it’s there’s a little bit more questions on D uh with the defense being remade, but we are of course brought to you by our good friends at LearnKey Upskll Academy, an online learning platform designed to get you job ready in 6 months or less. Doesn’t matter what field you’re interested in. They offer 30 different certification programs. They will help you make that next step in your professional career. They’ve been in business for 37 years. They’ve helped over 200,000 students along the way. Over a hundred students every month in this program are placed in new well-paying jobs. So, Learn Key Upskill Academy. Thanks to them for sponsoring the Krug Show. All right, we’ve got this interesting one from J49. Oh, no. Actually, J49 says, “Larry rocks.” Well, that’s interesting, too. But we got this one from Alex. Alex says, “Kyle Pitts inquiries.” Let’s talk tight end for a second. There was some talk last week about Darnell Washington to the Ners after the Steelers got uh uh John Smith. Where are you with the tight end spot? Because this is another spot that I think is really really interesting. They wanted to get KD in the pattern more um than they had him in the pattern last year because they needed him to block. So, they brought in Luke Ferrell. So, Luke Ferrell’s a good blocker. So, he replaces Charlie Warner. But then you look at every other tight end on the Niner depth chart and they’re all underpowered receiving only nonblockers. Um I mean it’s KD who’s both. He’s a two-way tight end. It’s Frell who’s a blocker. It’s Dwelli who’s just a receiver. It’s Willis who’s really just a receiver. It’s Tongis who’s really really just a receiver. And then it’s Ply who’s a converted basketball player. And we think that he’s probably much better as a receiver. So, I mean, and Kyle Pittz, the idea of Kyle Pitts, he would be another receiver. Um, where are you at tight end? Do you like the group? Would you add to this mix? Are you comfortable with what they have right now? I, you know, one of my biggest issues with the draft, which I thought the 49ers had a great draft, but one of my own personal critiques was I really thought they were going to have a move add a move tight end and one of the deepest tight end drafts that’s been around a long time like you know, Harold Fed Jr. or you know the Jaylen Conurs like whatever they
Jayen Conjurs was there for them all all day on day three and they passed and they they worked this guy out. Yeah, they they worked. I mean, I And this this guy I thought was I don’t know who got him, but he’s gonna be a steal. I don’t know who got him, but he’s fantastic.
So, I I was I was a little like, man, they they got me there because I I really thought that they were going to add some of that. They didn’t. And and they do need they need a move tight end now. I I loved the Luke Ferrell signing. I I thought that that was that was their first priority, by the way, Larry. Like, they went out and signed him before anybody else. like they wanted to be able to release KD in the way that they wanted to and allow that kind of 12 personnel, one back, two tight end sets, do what they wanted to do. So, but man, yeah, they’re betting that somebody’s going to come out of that group. I don’t have a lot of hope. I hope Mason Ply wins personally just because he’s the only guy that has any relative upside whatsoever out of those four guys that you mentioned.
But yeah, I
I thought that this was a miss. I I would have really have liked to have spent like, you know, a a a sixth, fifth, sixth, seventh round pick on a move tight end to develop into a spot, but you know, we’re being bet I’m being picky here. But yeah, I don’t know who it’s going to be. I want it to be Mason Ply, but that dude didn’t even get snaps in training camp last year.
Can he finally get into the fold? Yeah, it was a true red shirt.
Yeah, they red shirted Ply. I think Pine’s the guy they like is at number three, but who knows? And I’ll say this, too. if if um this could there could be somebody around the league uh that gets cut that they would have interest in. And then there are those who are like Krug, why are you banging bagging on the Niners for being 26th in the NFL and undrafted free agent spending for that reason alone? Because I Jaylen Conurs I believe might have been an undrafted free agent. Uh there were a number of good undrafted free agent tight ends and the Niners didn’t get any of them. Um and that to me was a position of need. So, and and being 26th and undrafted free agent spending, um it just makes no sense at all. That is the especially this year made no sense at all because that was the most fruitful uh market and uh that to me sounded like it came from above. That sounded like an ownership edict which always
he got a 100 thou guaranteed thou h 100,000 guaranteed from Miami.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the Niners didn’t spend big money in the undrafted market, and if they had had another $100,000, they may be able to get this guy. Now, we’ll see. Maybe a couple of these guys will wind up getting cut anyway, and they can find somebody at the cut down. But I think they’ll be looking for somebody at the cutdown if Dwelli, Willis, Tongis, or Ply um if none of those four guys show out. All right, let’s talk a little bit about um the offensive line. Grant Conn had an idea the other day that I thought was kind of interesting. I I don’t I kind of was in the mindset that there’s nothing left to do on the offensive line because I’m just a believer that you you you know you have to either your offensive line you have to be real. You have to either draft somebody who’s real, you got to sign somebody who’s real. You know, it’s very rare that you find Jordan Mada. you know, it’s rare, very rare that you find some, you know, really good offensive linemen that nobody else found that, you know, it’s like just out there. Um, but he suggested that the ners go sign the former Jaguar, Brandon Sherf, and Sherf started 51 regular season games for the Jaguars over the last three seasons. He did not surrender a single sack in 2024, according to PFF. He was fourth among all guards in pass blocking efficiency. He has a run blocker. He ranked 57th. Um, and now you’ve got a brand new, you know, Jaguar front regime. James Gladstone comes over from the Rams. Um, you know, he’s reshaping the offensive line. Uh, they let Sheriff go in free agency and he made six different O line additions in the draft or outside signings. So, they’re trying to turn over their O line. What do you think of Sherf who played with uh you know Trent Williams in Washington who is been a very very you know solid NFL guard. What do you think of the idea of spending some money on Brandon Sherf and using BCH or Colby or any of these other guys more as bench pieces and trying to add a little bit to the interior?
Is he a fit? I Yeah. Oh, he’s a fit 100%. He’s one of the most athletic interior offensive linemen to come out of the NFL in the past two decades and from Iowa outside zone coached by McVey at Washington you know which we talked you just talked about like yeah he fits but he’s 34 years old and so like you would have the oldest old line group with you know 37y old Trent Williams 34 year old uh sheriff he could plug and play I think they want to go young I think they want to go cheap I think they want to go if you had couple injuries even. I still don’t think that they would pull that trigger. Not saying that’s a good call or a bad call, but I I I don’t know. There’s so many guards that they like. Um you you drafted Connor KBY in the seventh round who is basically a decade younger than Sheriff that has played that same spot. They’re really high. They like Drew Moss. They’re definitely high on Drew Moss.
So, I think they’re going to stay young. It I don’t mind the idea of getting more veteran, whatever. But like you signed Ben Barge to a $1 million deal to be a starter. Like they are going cheap on the offensive line and the new philosophy whether you like it or not. We’re going bargain bin shopping and we’re just getting guys that could fit. And Chris Forester outlined this for us. You were at the press conference. We believe we just get an average level player on that offensive line, we’re going to be just fine. The Shanahan scheme, outside zone, play action pass, all that will cover up the rest of it. So, we’re going to spend our resources elsewhere. You know, will Sheriff come out of Yeah, he’s he’s close to retirement, you know, 34 year old. We’ll we’ll see. Nobody signed him yet. I don’t see it. I wouldn’t be upset, but I think they want to see what the young guys could do first. And if you did make a sign like that, I think it would be like week two or maybe right after, you know, you’re through with the preseason and whatever else and you make the cut down, then you sign them. I doubt it happens. So, it seems like they’re trying to go young and cheap. Let’s let’s cut to the chase. Give me your five starters. Is it is it Trent, BCH, Brendle, Pun, McKivitz?
Yes. Yes, it is. And I I don’t even think there’s a battle anywhere to be honest with you. Who’s your Who are your backups then? Because it you know this is an area where I do feel like they are improved here uh with the backups. You’ve added Connor KBY. You’ve added Drew Moss. Uh, you get another year of experience for Drake Nent, for Nick Sel, uh, Spencer Berford, they brought in Andre Dillard, they brought in Matt Hennessy last year. Austin Pleasants to me looks absolutely monster. I don’t I don’t know if that’s real or not. He looks fantastic. Who How many backup offensive linemen do they go with? Do they go with four and and they wind up with nine or they go with five and they wind up with 10? You know, back the one thing about backup O linemen, they don’t play. So you if you go with too many backup O linemen, you can really hurt your roster, handicap your roster in other spots. Um, who are the backup O linemen? I think that’s going to be a pretty damn good competition.
I want four. I think it’s going to be three. And my four would be Hennessy. Then I’m going Nick Squel, Connor Kby. Ah man, I can’t do it. Nope. I got to kick Zel out. And I don’t think that they’re going to do that. But I’m going Connor KBY, Spencer Berford, and Andre Dillard. We haven’t even seen that dude play yet. Like he might not even, you know.
So wait, no. Hennessy or did you say Hennessy?
Yeah. So Hennessy, Conor, Spencer Bford, Andre Dillard.
Okay.
But I don’t think Pleasants and Zel and Moss and Nent, those guys get cut.
Um I I’ll say this. I mean Dillard
I think Dillard against Pleasants against Berford is going to be a really good competition and I think Hennessy against Squel against uh Colby against Moss I think is also going to be a hell of a competition. I think it’s going to be rough for them to cut Zel because he’s Pertie’s good buddy. Um but I think last year he looked good last year.
Exactly. Um it’s kind of now or never for Berford. Um you know it probably should be now or never for Pleasants. He’s been around the block so many times. Pleasant looks so good. I I can’t I have a hard time picturing Pleasants not making the team, but Dillard wasn’t even out there. And Dillard, I think, definitely improved in Green Bay um from what he put on the field at Philadelphia. He was a former first round pick. A lot of people think of Andre Dillard as just a bust, but um he’s just kind of raw and he’s still big and fast and athletic and talented. So, uh he’s not that old. So, we’ll see. I it’s to me that that is going to be interesting.
There’s so many in that room, Larry. So many.
Yeah, they’re it’s they’ve they’ve they’ve got a better competition for the backup spots, but they still could probably, you know, you know, invest a day one pick in an offensive lineman uh in 2026. I’d be shocked if they don’t. All right, let’s talk about a couple of those other spots. Um receiver, you know, where are you with the receivers? because you know you’re not going to have Iayuk, you’re not going to have Debo’s gone. Um, and Demarcus Robinson is going to miss the first three weeks. So, you got Pieraw, but he hasn’t played very much. You had Jennings in a contract here. You have the two 43 guys, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. Um, and then after that, it’s just kind of, you know, you got Demarcus Robinson as as I said in and but not the first three weeks. Then you have Isaiah Hajins, Isaiah Naer, Junior Bergen who says he’s his goal is to make the Hall of Fame. You have Malik Nolles, Tariq Owens, Russell Gage, Trent Taylor’s on the I think on the IR.
He’s gone.
Um, yeah. Well, I mean, I this is a spot and I, you know, I I don’t know if I told you, but I did a video this week that was one of my favorite videos I’ve done in a while. Basically, what I did was I just went and I went through uh the wide receiver position and I wanted to look at every team’s depth chart to see who is most likely going to be, you know, have extra receivers. I hear those notes pages turning over there, Larry. I freaking love this dude. Seriously, I So, I made this video and I just have the notes from it. So, the three teams, John, that I that I found that have way too many receivers, Green Bay, they’ve got Romeo Dobs, Jaden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savon Williams, Christian Watson. Um, they have, uh, who else? Micole Hardman, um, Dantavon Wixs, and Bo Melton.
I like Bo Melton.
I have a feeling that they may cut Bo Melton. Oh, so Bo Melton who can who they’re using as a corner. Uh he’s a good special teamer. Uh he’s a quick receiver. His brother plays corner for the Cardinals. Um but I think there’s a very good chance that Bo Meltton or Micole Hardman could get cut in Green Bay. Those are kind of interesting names. Um the Jets, we talked about this before, but Malachi Corley I think is very good chance he gets cut uh by the Jets. They have a lot of receivers. And then I was looking at every team in the league and I got to Kansas City and Kansas City has Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Rashi Rice, um Jaylen Royals, who they just drafted at Utah State. I think he makes it. Juju Smith Schustster, Sky Moore, Justin Ross, and others. But one of the guys they have is Elijah Badger who is the Florida receiver who I didn’t realize but he’s a NorCal guy. He’s from South Sack. He went to Folsam High School. Um he’s got natural receiving ability. He started off at ASU and then went to Florida. He kind of did the Ricky Pieraw thing. Probably knows Ricky.
61 200 lbs. Ran 443. I love this receiver Elijah Badger. And I just think that there’s a very good chance that Badger gets, you know, Kansas City is not he’s not gonna make that receiving CP. Um, but they’re g but they’re gonna recognize that he’s good and then they’re going to try to squeeze him through waiverss to their practice squad. And this would be the guy that I would pluck. Now, there are a few other names um I’m going to throw your way. Uh Nick Nash from who’s with the Falcons. Uh, Brandon Rice, Jerry’s son with the Chargers. Uh, Lisa Chenalt with Buffalo who’s very versatile player and Kendrick Bourne with New England. I think all those guys could get cut as well. And you might be able to choose from one of these guys. Of all of them, I think I would want Elijah Badger. I’m a big fan of Elijah Badger. You have to watch Florida film to to check him out. But um how do you feel at the receiver spot? How do I mean h how many do you keep? And and I mean Junior Bergen, Isaiah Nayer, Isaiah Hajins, Malik Nolles. Are you giving any of these guys a shot or um are you going to look elsewhere for that last receiver pick? Yeah, outside wide receiver is a major question mark early with Iayuk and Demarcus Robinson, you know, probably not going to be there early. And again, week one, Seattle, one of the most important games of the year. like you’ve got to hit the ground running against a quality secondary. You’ve got to have outside help. That’s why I I’d lean vets, you know, and so I think Isaiah Hajins, I think Russell Gage, I think those are the two guys that I would like to see, but I do I like Isaiah Ner. I really like I really like Malik Nolles. Now, he’s not he could play outside, but he’s more of that Debo type role, tackle breaker, you know, whatever else. Of all the names you me Yeah. of all the names you mentioned, Leiscus Chanel is the one like cuz he’s that Malik Nolles Debo role. Like you put him back at returner, done. You run some jet sweeps, done. Like you’re you’re good there. But outside wide receiver, you’ve got to have somebody come out of these battles, whether that’s Jacob Cowing. I know people are like, “Well, he’s too small.” Well, he can play outside wide receiver. He did Arizona and the 4-3 speed says he can. You know, Isaiah,
he looks great in practice. I mean, um, Cowing looks phenomenal in practice. I’ll just say that. I take it for what it’s worth. I realize, but it’s practice, but he looks great right now. Maybe he makes that sophomore jump, which I think that’s the Niners want him to win. The 49ers want him to win that role. It’s It’s just, can you trust him? You spent time with Brock Pury with Ricky Pieraw. He’s added weight. Like, that’s great. That’s great. That’s who they want to win. I mean, you remember that 50 yard catch that he had? He never got a target for the next six weeks after that. I think it was against the Chiefs. Like it was just like what happened? Like this dude dust a corner for a 50 yard gain on a go route and then never to be heard from again. Yeah,
it was what what happened and it wasn’t lineing up right. And I understand Kyle Shanahan his quote was well he’s got to earn those snaps. He’s got to earn those targets. And so maybe he’s earned that this off seasonason. And so that’s who they want to win. I’m betting on Isaiah Hajins though. I I think Shanahan wants veteran, somebody you could trust, somebody that’s done it before. You know what you’re going to get out of them. It’s not flashy. It’s not sexy, but I think he could bring that. And so I I think and Isaiah Hajins or, you know, Russell Gage, they might not even make the 53man cut, but we’ve seen Shanahan do this gentleman’s agreement shake, right, so many times whether that was Willie Sneed or Chris Connley or Trent Taylor. Hey, we’re going to cut you, but we’re gonna bring you back on our practice squad and we’re going to guarantee promote you the first two games of the season. You know, one of those veteran look, we’re going to let you go. Don’t go anywhere else. I promise you, we’re promoting you week one and week two. You’re going to be out there special teams and you’ll be our fourth wide receiver for the first two weeks type of a thing.
I I I would have to vote for Hajins over Gage on that one. But you what what about Amari Cooper? What about Keenan Allen? What about uh what about some of the veterans? You know, real veterans like Kendrick Bourne could get cut by New England. I would say it’s probably going to happen. Are you or even a D um Gabe Davis who they brought in, you know, a month ago for a look see would you would you rather go with Nolles, Gage or Hajins or try to go outside for a veteran? I would go outside and again the two positions that I think are the you need veteran depth that more than anywhere outside corner which we talked about and outside wide receiver but it’s a temporary fix and this is kind of the problem that I have is once Demarcus Robinson comes back after suspension you’ve kind of solved that issue I I love that signing once I use back now it’s kind of overkill outside wide receiver so do you go break the bank and spend a four to7 million for an Amari Cooper or a two to 5 million for Aenan Allen if you’re just this is a monthlong band-aid right and so which is going to take away snaps from these younger guys or do you say hey and this seems to be the answer the 49ers are giving currently let’s see if one of the young guys can show out and win and if they can then we’re fine and that’s best case scenario because we’re not wasting roster spot and more salary cap but if they cannot uh then we’re going to pluck somebody to come in here but yeah I I do think that you need more debt But if you can get a cheap signing, probably wouldn’t be an Amari Cooper or Keenan Allen. But like, yeah, there I would like something there. If Kendrick Bourne gets cut, yeah, I think Kendrick Bourne’s best in the slot, but he could play outside. Uh, he can’t stretch the field vertically. That’s always been his kind of MO is like that’s the problem. He plays like a good outside wide receiver. He’s a light, not as physical Jawan Jennings. We’ve seen it. He can play slot. He can play outside. If he gets cut, yeah, that’s the answer. I’m not so sure they’re going to cut him, though. They love Dude, the Patriots love Kendrick Bourne. They try to
So I I don’t know if he does get cut. Yes,
he I think he will this year because they they’ve just got a lot of young receivers that they’ve got to they’ve got to account for. Uh and they, you know, they drafted a couple guys last year, Javon Baker, Jaylen Pulk. They’re either going to cut those guys or they’re going to cut Borne and they may cut those guys. Um we’ll see. Two last ones on the Niners uh before we call it quits. I think the two most important spots on the offense. Let’s start running back and then we’ll talk quarterbacks. You got CMC. Is he back? Is he not back? Okay. Well, you know, I don’t know. Uh, you got Juice is back. Uh, Gendo, James, uh, Jordan James, Patrick Taylor Jr., Cory Ker, Izzy Aanakanda. I I think I’m excited as heck about this position. Um, one, for a couple reasons. One, Christian is back healthy. He looks really good. Um, but what I’m really excited about is that Gendo looks great. I mean, he looks amazing. Like, he looks like a star. He really looks like the kind of guy that could be um, you know, the kind of guy that everybody in the the rest of the league is talking about, Isaac Gerendo. And then, you know, Jordan James and Corey Ker have also kind of flashed at times. And I’ve always been a big Izzy Obanaconda fan. And I kind of thought Taylor played decently last year. So, there is no guaranteed money for any of these backups. I mean, Juice is making his money, he’s going to make the team. CMC obviously is going to make the team. Um, but like everybody else is kind of on an even playing field, so it’s a legitimate competition. It’s not like one guy’s got $5 million coming his way. Gendo is going to be on this team for sure. Um, but I’m really really excited about Corendo and I’m and I’m not sure between the other four who’s gonna fire and who’s not, but I mean I I think they’ve all they’re all pretty intriguing. I think running back to me the most exciting part of this year is the idea that the Niners could transition from CMC’s dominant to CMC and Gendo are an amazing combo. You know, my biggest issue with Isaac Gindo has been injuries his entire career. I mean, he’s missed so much time. He he didn’t take part in rookie mini camp last year. He I think he practiced five times through all of training camp um last season. He had multiple hamstring issues, all that stuff. He’s practicing now, and this is where Gindo is going to shine. Shirt and shorts. He’s the biggest running back. He’s the fastest running back. Like, this is his thing. But now that he’s getting practice, can he develop the vision? That’s that’s his thing. His injuries and vision. He’s got the speed. He’s got the size. He’s got the receiving threat. He’s got he’s got he’s got. So, the fact that he’s getting reps now in the offseason and if he can stay healthy, man, I I really hope you’re right, Larry. And I think we could see that. It’s just, man, last year he got thrown into the fire after not practicing at all because you didn’t have anybody else. And he answered the call. He did pretty well. There were five or six plays he ran into his own guy. It’s going to happen. He was, you know, going over through the bumps and bruises lifetime in NFL games instead of practice. So, can he develop into and the fact that now he’s getting to practice behind Christian McCaffrey, which he couldn’t last year because CMC and him were both out. Christian McCaffrey, what’s his best trait? Vision. Maybe the best vision of any running back in NFL history. That’s what makes him so special. So, if you can kind of steal and siphon some of that off and learn and grow into that with those reps, that’s what’s going to make Isaac Reno special. And so, I think that this is huge. You got to remember last year Christian McCaffrey was questionable week one. Do you remember that? Like Kyle Shannon was like, “Yeah, he could play this week.” And then he didn’t play for what, three months. So, like Chris McCaffrey hasn’t missed a day. And so, you got to go with kind of the reports that are out there. I’m excited about this room, too, man. And I’m kind of worried Patrick Taylor, who’s somebody that I really like and I think you can trust. Like I He might get cut, which sucks, but man, I really like Patrick Taylor. That’s how good this room is. If somebody like a Cory Ker steps up, Jordan James is making this roster for sure. Like, I don’t know. This is solid room. I I I I hate that Jordan Base is not here and he’s one of my favorite players, but this is solid room and you have depth and you can’t say that about a lot of positions on this team.
No, it’s a good room for sure. Uh all right, let’s finish with quarterback and then I have one super to throw your way. Somebody’s got a good question. Perie is going to be the one. Ror is going to be the four. Um and really it’s just a matter of M. Jones against Tanner Morai. And it’s not really much of a competition because the NerS are paying Morcai no guaranteed money. M. Jones was just signed and given 4.75 million guaranteed to be the number two quarterback. So if it’s if Jones beats out Morai, he’s number two. If Jones and Morcai battle to a even standstill, then Jones is number two. If Morcai beats out Jones uh slightly, I got to say it. Jones is number two still. The only way this is going to change is if Tanner Morai beats out M. Jones decisively. If more Tanner Morai looks worlds better than M. Jones both all summer in camp and in the preseason games, I think there’s a chance that in that scenario, Morcai would be the two and that they would flip M. Jones to another team probably for some seventh round pick. And then I could see CJ Bethard or somebody like that who was just working out with Brock and KD in Nashville last week. I could see somebody like that being signed it to be the number three uh for the year. I I just don’t believe the NerS are going to pay the same way they weren’t going to pay Tre Lance 9 million to be their third string quarterback. They will not pay M. Jones4.75 million to be the number two quarterback. I know the argument is, hey, well, you’re going to pay the same for Morai or for Jones, whether they’re, you know, they go 3-2 or 23. I get that. But I just don’t believe that the Niners will keep M. Jones at 4.75 if he’s not number two. And I don’t think he’s going to be happy and nor would he want to stay here if he’s not number two. So, I think this is actually kind of one of the more interesting competitions because Morcai is a better athlete. He’s got a better arm. he’s, you know, has been in the system longer and this is a complicated system and he out he he he looked much better than Mack in the in the OTAAS. I know the plan is for Mack to be number two and that’s 95% of the chance of what happens here, but if Morcai beats him out, I think Jones is traded and we see a different number three. Give me your thoughts on quarterback. Yeah, I think Kyle got tired of the revolving door at the backup spot. That’s what this is the first time he’s given out a two-year contract to a backup quarterback in M Jones. He’s he signed this year, next year, and he’s got, you know, the 47 guarantee that you talked about.
Is it guaranteed next year, too?
Um, he’s got guaranteed salary is 1.51 this year, 1 million next year, but the cap that you talked about was the 475. So, it’s divided up in a couple chunks, but yeah, 475 coming off the books this year. So, that’s the fully guaranteed, but I did I did think this again, this was a contract that got done early in free agency. This is there were a lot of quarterbacks out there. Shanahan went and targeted this guy. The love he’s had for him since, you know, the Tre Lance draft and all that kind of stuff, it’s all documented. I I think Kyle just said, “Look, I’m tired of this revolving door crap.” And so, let’s get a guy that I like that fits my system. Blah blah blah blah blah. M. Jones wants to come here, revitalize his career. I like Taylor Morai, too, man. I’m a Texas dude. I I saw that dude win a state championship in person. Like, he is a baller.
He’s an athlete.
He’s And he carried his team against South Lake. I I think I think he beat South Lake one of the games I was at. a lot of Texas high school football in my in my past, but like that dude carried a he’s he’s elite, but we’ve seen Kyle not give the job to the best starting quarterback before. You put Allen out there last year whenever Dobs was clearly the better choice. You put Brandon Allen out there with a broken hand in bad weather, whatever, he clearly wasn’t the choice. That’s why I think even if Tanner Morai wins that job, Kyle, he’s he’s sticking with M. Jones. Nobody’s going to talk about this because he’s convinced he could turn this dude into a superstar. My thing is I hope Mac. Jones does ball out in the limited reps he gets and goes and signs for, you know, the next Sam Darnold deal and we get another third round comp pick. But, uh, we’ll see. I I think it’s going to be Mac. Jones. I do like Tanner Morai, though, and I hope he sticks around for a long time.
Last one. Juan Sodto, uh, Juan Solo says, “What is the weakest position group on the 49ers?” center. It’s not even close. O line, would you say?
No, I I mean I I like the fact that two out of your five starters and Dominic Puny and Trent Williams are Pro Bowl Allp Pro level. I believe Dominic Dominic Pun is there already. Like that’s 40%. So I don’t think the offensive line and it’s one of the most offensive line friendly schemes. I am saying center has been and will continue to be a weak point of this entire roster as long as Jake Brindle’s here. you’re getting what you pay for and he’s one of the lowest paid centers. Congrats to him who just had a kid. I do think that’s awesome. And to him and his family and I actually like the dude, but like it’s just bad play and just poor red zone, poor short yardage, quits on plays 10 times a game. Like I don’t understand what black male pitchers he has. That’s my biggest issue. Um No.
Yeah. I I you know you just just to pick some just to be different on you know because I I think you’re probably right. I I’d probably go offensive line and and and I’m not a gigantic Bindle fan either. I don’t quite get that. Um but if you were talking about position group, I don’t really love the tight end spot. Now obviously you have KD and KD’s a great tight end, so that obviously helps. But the but that as far as the rest of that group, Frell to me looks very stiff and he’s big, but he looks very stiff. And the rest of those guys look like receiving tight ends that aren’t great receivers. I mean, that are not like awesome receivers. So I I I kind of think that like George KD is such a incredible player that we just think of tight end spot as really good. But man, if George KD at any point went down, I think the Ners would just be in such hurt. I think that’s the weakest position on the team. I think that you don’t even have guys that you could use. Like I don’t think you can run the ball if you had Dwelli. I don’t think you can run the ball with Braden Willis. I’m not I don’t know that you can run the ball with anybody besides KD or Frell. So, you got you know I would say tight end. I would say tight end as a group uh might be the weakest spot. Um all right, that’s going to do it for us. Camp will be here before long. John, what do you got cooking the rest of the day? Tell people I know I just saw you you put it out on on X. Maybe I could call this up here. Um you have announced what the travel schedule is going to be for the 49er Rush uh podcast travel itinerary. I want to
Yeah, we’re going we’re going ham, man. Uh we are going to every single we got nine trips this year. We’re doing all the road games except for LA cuz we take over that stadium anyway. There’s a large Niner presence. That’s a home game. So yeah, if you want to come out and party with us, we throw parties the day before every single 49ers road game. Uh we fly to the city. We rent out venues, family-friendly. Kids are free to every single event. Um, and then we host a incredible tailgate, raffles, giveaways. Again, kids are free to every event with a ticketed adult. And we’re going to Vegas for the preseason. So, you want to come party with us at tailgate in Vegas. That’s up on there. All you got to do
drinking contests at these events. Look at this. Oh, hell yeah, we do. Uh, we we we do a we do a what’s it called? We we play flip club sometimes, but we play a we do a thunder struck drinking beer game. It’s a good time. uh for those that want to participate, man, we give so much stuff away. I have 110 autographed jerseys in my possession that we give away uh on these road trips. And so try to make memories and make it good for the kids. So all you got to do is go to the Tickpick app um use promo code Niners N I N R S and then just search 49ers Rush. All of our events are exclusively on the Tickpick app and again you can go buy those now. They’re the cheapest they’re going to be and we do sell out of a lot of events uh like Houston and New Orleans and New York probably going to sell out of those. Man, we’re going to have a seafood boil tailgate which I’m so pumped about in New Orleans. So I I’m Man, I’m so excited about that. Larry’s coming to one. Larry’s
I’m definitely coming to one. I definitely coming to one. Seattle, New Orleans, Tampa, Houston, New York, Arizona, Cleveland, Indie. Um and I just for those who follow me on Twitter at sportslar K, I just retweeted John. If you haven’t followed John, John’s a good follow.jl_chapman. He’s got the list there. He’s got the link there. I’m pointing to it. Hopefully you guys can see that. Tickpick.com/organizer. Uh the connection the u the link is right there. So definitely guys, if you uh if you want to if you haven’t been to one of the road trips, definitely it’s worth doing. Definitely worth doing. Um all right, that’s going to do it for us. Thanks to John, thanks to Pig and a Pickle. Thanks to Sharp Corner Sports Cards and Collectibles. Thanks to our good friends at uh at Claw Daddy Arcades and Learn Key Upskill Academy. The links in the description for all of our sponsors. John, I’ll give you the final word. Man, I just want to say thank you, Larry, uh for all that you brought to the freaking offseason. It’s been incredible. And in today’s we’re going to have you interviewing people and bringing us the insight. I’m going to be messaging you, man. Hey, who who’s getting these number two snaps? Who who’s rotating over here? So, Larry, just really appreciate you, your family, your boys for all that you bring to us. And man, off seasonason’s almost over, ladies and gents, and we are going to have new 49ers content and tape and all kinds of breakdowns. And just want to say thanks to Larry, man. Appreciate you, bro.
Thank you, John. Appreciate that. Thanks to everybody. Uh, as Bill as the as the the one time great pro and now great college coach, Bill Bellichic said, “No days off.” No days off.
Yeah. Never met a man I’ve been scared of. Careful.

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