The 49ers on Tuesday released their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. Perhaps the most notable part of this depth chart is that the coaching staff doesn’t have a hand in putting it together. The club’s PR team is responsible for building and distributing it.
While the results aren’t entirely inaccurate, they’re also not spot on or reflective of what the coaching staff has jotted down in any rough drafts of the depth chart they put together.
We went through what was recently-released and drew some general conclusions meant to be taken with a sizable portion of salt and perhaps your favorite adult beverage.
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Jimmy Garoppolo
Trey Lance
Nate Sudfeld/Josh Rosen
Conclusion: This seems like the right order with Rosen slightly behind Sudfeld for now.
San Francisco 49ers/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network
Raheem Mostert
Trey Sermon
Wayne Gallman/JaMycal Hasty
Elijah Mitchell
Conclusion: It would be a little bit of a surprise if Hasty makes the club over Mitchell, but not a shock.
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Kyle Juszczyk
Josh Hokit
Conclusion: Nothing really significant here. The only question is whether Hokit can earn a roster spot in the even Juszczyk is unavailable.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Brandon Aiyuk/Deebo Samuel
Mohamed Sanu/Richie James
Jalen Hurd/Trent Sherfield
Jauan Jennings/Travis Benjamin
River Cracraft/Nsimba Webster
Kevin White/Austin Watkins Jr.
Conclusion: Who the heck knows with this group. Sherfield is realistically probably higher on the actual depth chart and James is probably lower.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
George Kittle
Ross Dwelley
Charlie Woerner/MyCole Pruitt
Jordan Matthews/Joshua Perkins
Conclusion: If the 49ers keep a fourth tight end, it’ll be fascinating to see which of Pruitt, Matthews and Perkins emerge because the Kittle-Dwelley-Woerner trio all seem pretty firm in their standing.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Trent Williams
Jaylon Moore
Conclusion: Moore winding up making the club as a swing tackle would be kind of a fun story line after he was tabbed to move inside after he was drafted.
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Laken Tomlinson
Colton McKivitz
Conclusion: No surprises here. McKivitz is also in the mix to start at right guard.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Alex Mack
Jake Brendel
Dakoda Shepley
Conclusion: In reality, Daniel Brunskill is more likely to be the No. 2 center.
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Daniel Brunskill
Aaron Banks
Senio Kelemete
Conclusion: Banks working his way into that starting role by Week 1 will be one of the big things to watch as the preseason progresses.
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Mike McGlinchey
Tom Compton
Corbin Kaufusi
Alfredo Gutierrez
Conclusion: The 49ers are in trouble if Compton winds up playing right tackle. He’s also in the mix at right guard.
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Arik Armstead
Dee Ford
Jordan Willis
Alex Barrett/Davin Bellamy
Conclusion: Nothing crazy here. Armstead is the starter in base packages. Ford will come in for sub packages.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Javon Kinlaw
Kentavius Street
Maurice Hurst
Darrion Daniels
Conclusion: The 49ers have a ton of interchangeable parts on the inside. Nothing notable in this group aside from Street being listed as the No. 2 DT. It would be good for the 49ers if he takes a big jump forward this year.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
DJ Jones
Kevin Givens
Zach Kerr
Shilique Calhoun
Conclusion: Jones, Givens and Kerr could be a really nice interior rotation for the 49ers this year.
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Nick Bosa
Samson Ebukam
Arden Key
Eddie Yarbrough
Conclusion: The 49ers needed DE help badly going into the offseason. If Ebukam and Key both pan out it’ll be one of San Francisco’s deepest positions.
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Azeez Al-Shaair
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
James Burgess Jr.
Conclusion: Flannigan-Fowles has had a long path to a roster spot after signing as an undrafted free agent safety three seasons ago. He’s now in line for the backup SAM role going into the year.
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Fred Warner
Jonas Griffith
Justin Hilliard
Conclusion: It’s tough to see Griffith or Hilliard making the club as of early August. Warner’s backup is probably Dre Greenlaw, and the backup WILL would move into that vacant starting spot.
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Dre Greenlaw
Marcell Harris
Elijah Sullivan
Conclusion: Harris started making the transition to linebacker late last season. Now he has a very real shot at a roster spot, especially if he’s in line for the backup WILL job.
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Emmanuel Moseley
Ambry Thomas
Deommodore Lenoir
Alexander Myres
Conclusion: That depth behind Moseley is shaky regardless of what order its in.
(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
Jason Verrett
Dontae Johnson
Ken Webster
B.W. Webb
Conclusion: Same as above.
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K’Waun Williams
Conclusion: Lenoir will probably be the No. 2 nickel corner if Williams is unavailable, but that’s still up in the air. Safety Jimmie Ward can also move down into the slot.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Jimmie Ward
Jared Mayden
Kai Nacua
Conclusion: The depth here is extremely inexperienced after Tarvarius Moore’s injury. Chances are one of the strong safeties would slide over.
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Tavon Wilson
Talanoa Hufanga
Tony Jefferson
Conclusion: Jaquiski Tartt’s toe injury puts a big dent in the 49ers’ safety depth. Hufanga could realistically see defensive playing time.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Long snapper: Taybor Pepper
Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky
Kicker: Robbie Gould
Conclusion: No backups at any of these three spots.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Brandon Aiyuk
Richie James Jr.
River Cracraft
Travis Benjamin
Conclusion: Aiyuk may be too valuable to the 49ers’ offense to be the full-time return man, but they could certainly use a jolt at that position.
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Richie James Jr.
Elijah Mitchell
Kevin White
Nsimba Webster
Conclusion: If Webster is actually last on the kick return depth chart he has virtually zero path to the roster.
