It is way too early in 49ers training camp to identify any trends or changes in the roster market.
After all, the 49ers are just three practices into the summer, and real football has yet to come, according to one team leader.
“For me, football really doesn’t start until we put pads on,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said.
The 49ers have a day off from training camp on Saturday. They return to the practice field on Sunday, and their first time in pads is scheduled for Monday.
Still, that’s not going to stop us from taking the bold step of projecting the 53-man roster. Of couse, there could be a lot of changes between now and Aug. 26, when NFL teams must cut to the regular-season roster limit of 53 players.
Here is one opinion of how the 49ers’ roster looks right now:
Quarterback (3)
Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Tanner Mordecai
*Non-football injury — Kurtis Rourke (knee)
Overview: There is a chance the 49ers keep just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. But it seems like a good bet they will carry all four of their QBs, with Rourke ticketed for a season-long spot on the injury list.
Running back (5)
Christian McCaffrey
Kyle Juszczyk
Isaac Guerendo
Jordan James
Patrick Taylor
Overview: McCaffrey, Juszczyk, Guerendo and James appear to be locks. Taylor is the early front-runner for the fifth spot due to his experience on special teams. Undrafted rookie Corey Kiner has some skills and is in the mix, too.
Wide receiver (6)
Jauan Jennings
Ricky Pearsall
Jordan Watkins
Jacob Cowing
Russell Gage
Isaiah Neyor
PUP — Brandon Aiyuk (knee)
Possible suspension — Demarcus Robinson
Overview: No position group on the team is as wide open — or chaotic — as the wide receivers. Aiyuk and Robinson are projected to be unavailable at the beginning of the season. The NFL has yet to make a determination of Robinson’s status under the league’s policy on substances of abuse. The door is wide open for any number of veteran or young players to get hot and win roster spots. That’s why we’re not going to count out anyone among a group that includes Junior Bergen, Terique Owens, Isaiah Hodgins, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Knowles and Quintez Cephus.
Tight end (4)
George Kittle
Luke Farrell
Brayden Willis
Mason Pline
Overview: Ross Dwelley returned this offseason, so he is definitely going to make a run for a spot. But his contract includes no guaranteed money. Jake Tonges is also very much in play after earning a spot a year ago. Pline has a lot of potential with his unique size (6-foot-7, 260 pounds), so he might be worth keeping around and developing for a larger role in the future.
Offensive line (9)
Trent Williams
Dominick Puni
Colton McKivitz
Jake Brendel
Ben Bartch
Spencer Burford
Nick Zakelj
Andre Dillard
Matt Hennessy
Overview: The first six or seven are obvious. After that, the competition figures to be fierce for those final spots. Dillard has yet to practice with the team after undergoing an ankle procedure in the offseason. Hennessy has experience and a little versatility at the inside spots to give him an advantage. Draft pick Connor Colby will get a long look, as will undrafted rookie Drew Moss and Austen Pleasants, who started three games late in the season when the 49ers ran short on tackles.
Defensive line (9)
Nick Bosa
Mykel Williams
Alfred Collins
Bryce Huff
Yetur Gross-Matos
C.J. West
Jordan Elliott
Sam Okuayinonu
Kevin Givens
Overview: The 49ers’ new-look defensive line will feature a lot of experimentation to determine who fits best in which spots with certain combinations. The bottom end of the depth chart will provide opportunities for roster spots to be won (or lost). Robert Beal has gotten off to a good start, but he has to maintain that momentum when the pads go on. Kalia Davis and Evan Anderson have to make noticeable improvements from last season to win spots. And the door is open for all the others, including undrafted rookie Sebastian Valdez.
Linebacker (4)
Fred Warner
Dee Winters
Nick Martin
Chazz Surratt
PUP — Curtis Robinson
Overview: Warner, Winters and Martin appear to be locks. After that, special-teams contributions will take on vital importance when it comes to rounding out this group. The door is open for Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, Jalen Graham and undrafted rookie Stone Blanton to learn all the linebacker spots and make themselves valuable to the team on special teams. And the 49ers might also be tempted to keep a fifth linebacker for that reason.
Cornerback (6)
Deommodore Lenoir
Renardo Green
Tre Brown
Upton Stout
Siran Neal
Darrell Luter
Overview: The 49ers have 11 cornerbacks in camp, and each brings something a little different to the field. Tre Avery, Chase Lucas and Dallis Flowers have NFL experience. And undrafted rookies Jakob Robinson and Derrick Canteen are likely competing to win spots on the practice squad.
Safety (4)
Ji’Ayir Brown
Jason Pinnock
Marques Sigle
Richie Grant
PUP – Malik Mustapha (knee)
Overview: Jaylen Mahoney has been around for a couple years, and the 49ers have taken a liking to him. He must open eyes with what he brings to the table on special teams. Brown and Pinnock figure to be the starters to open the season. When Mustapha comes back, he could bump one of them from a starting role.
Special teams (3)
K Jake Moody
P Thomas Morstead
LS Jon Weeks
Overview: The big competition in camp is between Moody and veteran Greg Joseph, who has appeared in 75 NFL games since 2018 with Cleveland, Tennessee, Minnesota, the New York Giants, Washington and the New York Jets. The projection here is that Moody wins the job. Then, if he flubs up once the season begins, they can always go back to Joseph.
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