The 49ers will announce their 53-man lineup Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Heres who I believe will make the lineup:
QUARTERBACKS (3 ): Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard.
Beathard shouldnt make this team– he should be on the practice team. He probably will make it because hes Kyle Shanahans hand-picked pet job and George Kittles best pal. If keeping Beathard forces the 49ers to launch someone whos much better than him, what a shame it would be.
RUNNING BACKS (4 ): Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon, Kyle Juszczyk.
Im sure the 49ers would love to keep Jeff Wilson Jr., too– they called a play for him in the Super Bowl and he got 20 yards. The 49ers most likely will have to keep only four running backs. Im sure the 49ers hope he d clear waivers so they can put him on the practice team, however I anticipate some group would choose him up.
PASS RECEIVERS (7 ): Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis, Richie James Jr., Jauan Jennings.
Kyle Shanahan has drafted 6 large receivers considering that he ended up being the 49ers head coach, and all six of them likely will make the group. Shanahan is a former large receiver who hunts this position– I question hell quit on his carefully picked players so rapidly. Veteran Kevin White probably will join the practice team.
TIGHT ENDS (4 ): George Kittle, Jordan Reed, Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner.
Kittle all but verified Thursday in an interview that the 49ers will keep four tight ends. Reed will be the designated pass-catcher, Woerner the designated blocker and Dwelley the do-everything backup. Excellent quartet.
OFFENDING LINEMEN (8 ): Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Ben Garland, Daniel Brunskill, Mike McGlinchey, Justin Skule, Colton McKivitz, Tom Compton.
Brunskill will be the starting best guard even though he spent all of training camp playing. Garland will begin the season as the center up until Weston Richburg is activated off the PUP list.
PROTECTIVE LINEMEN (10 ): Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Jones, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, Solomon Thomas, Kerry Hyder, Kentavius Street, Kevin Givens, Dion Jordan.
Both Ronald Blair and Jullian Taylor likely will start the season on the PUP list. When they return, they most likely will take lineup spots from Dion Jordan and Kerry Hyder.
LINEBACKERS (5 ): Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Joe Walker.
The 49ers keep Walker instead of Mark Nzeocha because, while theyre both good special teams players, Walker has started 14 games in his career at linebacker while Nzeocha has begun just three. Meaning Walker is a much better backup linebacker than Nzeocha. And hes cheaper and more youthful than Nzeocha, too.
SECURITIES (3 ): Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Tarvarius Moore.
The 49ers kept just three securities in 2015, too. This year, theyll cut both Marcell Harris and Johnathan Cyprien, and both will join the practice squad.
CORNERBACKS (6 ): Richard Sherman, Emmanuel Moseley, KWaun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Tim Harris Jr., Jared Mayden.
Jason Verrett had a strong training school however hurt his hamstring this week, and has actually played just 6 games since 2015. I believe the 49ers will cut him, put him on their practice team and keep second-year cornerback Tim Harris Jr. rather. Harris was a sixth-round choice in 2019 who invested his novice season on the Injured Reserve List. The backup nickelback and just undrafted rookie who will make the roster this year is Jared Mayden. He can play safety as well.
SPECIALISTS (3 ): Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Kyle Nelson.
Very same trio as in 2015. And a great trio.
Well learn soon how proper these projections are.
What a shame it would be if keeping Beathard requires the 49ers to launch someone whos much better than him.
Im sure the 49ers would like to keep Jeff Wilson Jr., too– they called a play for him in the Super Bowl and he acquired 20 yards. The 49ers probably will have to keep only four running backs. The 49ers keep Walker instead of Mark Nzeocha because, while theyre both great special teams players, Walker has started 14 games in his profession at linebacker while Nzeocha has started only three. I think the 49ers will cut him, put him on their practice squad and keep second-year cornerback Tim Harris Jr. instead.
