So, for today I decided to take a look at the current 49ers roster, and rank each player, in no order, into tiers.
Tier 1: All-Pro, Elite Players, At or near the top of their position, the teams core players
Tier 2: Young players who have a chance to be All-Pro, Elite, and/or at or near the top of their position, can be part of the teams long term core
Tier 3: Proven Veterans with what it takes to be a leader on and off the field, plus are part of the teams core
Tier 4: Long term starters or players in the teams long term plans, like rotational players, plus who could become part of their core
Tier 5: Unknown whether they’re in the teams long term plans or not
Tier 6: Likely not in the teams long term plans.
Tier 1:
- FB Kyle Juszyzck
- TE George Kittle
- LT Trent Williams
- DE Nick Bosa
- MLB Fred Warner
Analysis: These 5 are obvious ones, most NFL rankings of the top 50-100 players have Kittle, Williams, Bosa & Warner all among them, I added in Juice, as he’s the best fullback, and he does more than any fullback does in the NFL, making him truly an Offensive Weapon, as coined by Kyle Shanahan & John Lynch in 2017, while the other 4 are clearly at, or among the best at their position, All-Pro, Elite, Pro Bowl, Building block players, all 5 would be All–Pro if they’d just add the fullback position to it, after all, fullbacks are people too.
Tier 2:
- QB Trey Lance
- RB Trey Sermon
- WR Brandon Aiyuk
- WR Deebo Samuel
- RG Aaron Banks
- DT Javon Kinlaw
- WLB Dre Greenlaw
Analysis: I think every 49ers fan hopes & prays that Lance is the teams franchise QB for the next 15-20 years, while Aiyuk, Deebo, Kinlaw, & Dre are up and coming stars in this league in my opinion, while I add 2021 2nd & 3rd round picks Banks & Sermon as guys I think will eventually become key core guys, right at or among the best players at their positions.
Tier 3:
- C Alex Mack
- LG Laken Tomlinson
- DE Arik Armstead
- CB K’Waun Williams
- FS Jimmie Ward
- SS Jaquiski Tartt
- PK Robbie Gould
Analysis: All of these players have a role to play with the 49ers, they’re the veterans, the leaders on the team, the proven guys, whether people agree with Armstead, Ward & Tartt, the fact is sacks & INTs aren’t everything for DL & DBs respectively, while we all know Mack solidifies the IOL at center, Tomlinson is a very good run blocking left guard, K’Waun is a top 2 slot CB in my opinion, and Gould is still GOLD.
Tier 4:
- RB Elijah Mitchell
- WR Jalen Hurd
- C Daniel Brunskill
- LG Colton McKivitz
- LG Jaylon Moore
- RT Mike McGlinchey
- DE Samson Ebukam
- DT Kevin Givens
- NT D.J. Jones
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- CB Ambry Thomas
- CB Deommodore Lenoir
- SS Talanoa Hufanga
- P Mitch Wishnowsky
- LS Taybor Pepper
Analysis: I think this is pretty much self explanatory, guys like Mitchell, Hurd(if healhy), Givens, & Jones are long term caliber core players, while Brunskill, Moore, & McKivitz should fill in the center & left guard spot, plus the other guy being the do-it-all OL. McGlinchey, if he has a bounce back year, he gets put into the tier 2, elite run blocker, average pass protector at best. I really think that DL Coach Kris Kocurek can bring the best out of Ebukam, and develop him into a lethal EDGE rusher, while Moseley, Thomas, & Lenoir could end up being long term starts, Moseley & Thomas outside, and Lenoir in the slot, Hufanga as the teams strong safety. and well Wishnowsky & Pepper can solidify the P & LS spots.
Tier 5:
- RB Raheem Mostert
- RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
- RB JaMycal Hasty
- WR Trent Sherfield
- WR Jauan Jennings
- WR Richie James Jr.
- TE Ross Dwelley
- TE Charlie Woerner
- RT Justin Skule
- DE Arden Key
- DE Jordan Willis
- DT Maurice Hurst Jr.
- SLB Azeez Al-Shaair
- WLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- CB Jason Verrett
- FS Tarvarius Moore
- SS Marcell Harris
Analysis: If Jason Verrett plays like he did in 2020, then he’s moved up to that long term starter tier. Tarvarius Moore was pegged, by me anyway, as the teams future free safety, but the Achilles injury really hurts his chances, he likely can be brought back on a 1-year Fourth Year Qualifying Contract, which sees him make more cash, but it counts much less against the cap(Blair & K’Waun are the 2 players to have gotten them), with the drafting of Sermon & Mitchell, one or both of Mostert & Wilson are likely expendable, it hurts that Wilson tore his Meniscus, but could be back by November. Hasty’s future depends on him potentially unseating Gallman for the 4th RB spot, or being able to stick around for another year on the practice squad, & then in 2022, the 49ers roll with Sermon, Mitchell, 1 of Mostert or Wilson, & Hasty. Players like Woerner, Skule, Al-Shaair, Flannigan-Fowles, & Harris are guys who can easily be replaced. At the WR spot, I wouldn’t expect all 3 to be apart of the teams long term plan, but hopefully 1 of them shows that they deserve it.
Tier 6:
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- QB Josh Rosen
- RB Wayne Gallman Jr.
- FB Josh Hokit
- WR Kevin White
- WR River Cracraft
- WR Austin Watkins Jr.
- WR Andy Jones
- WR Bennie Fowler
- WR Mohamed Sanu Sr.
- WR Travis Benjamin
- TE MyCole Pruitt
- TE Josh Pederson
- C Jake Brendel
- RG Dakoda Shepley
- RG Tom Compton
- RG Senio Kelemete
- RG Isaiah Williams
- LT Shon Coleman
- LT Corbin Kaufusi
- LT Alfredo Gutierrez
- DE Dee Ford
- DE Alex Barrett
- DE Daeshon Hall
- DT Kentavius Street
- NT Darrion Daniels
- NT Zach Kerr
- SLB Justin Hilliard
- MLB Nathan Gerry
- MLB Elijah Sullivan
- MLB Jonas Griffith
- WLB James Burgess Jr.
- CB Mark Fields II
- CB Ken Webster
- CB Dontae Johnson
- CB Tim Harris Jr.
- FS Tony Jefferson
- FS Jared Mayden
- FS Kai Nacua
- SS Tavon Wilson
Analysis: Pretty much self explanatory, these guys aren’t part of the teams long term plans, either because the 49ers have players, much better, ahead of them, or guys who are veterans, signed to vet minimum deals. And yes Garoppolo, we all know Trey Lance is the future in San Francisco.
So with all of this said, I thank everyone for reading article, as always you can follow me on Twitter @49erscap, or leave a comment below, and I’ll get back to you.
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