Today we continue our 9-part series of ranking the 49ers roster from 1-90, and today we are at 50-41.
50. WR Travis Benjamin
2021 Cap Number: $1,075,000
Chance At Making Active Roster: 50/50
Analysis: Another one of the 49ers opt-outs from 2020, Benajmin is coming back for 2021, in hopes of landing one of the likely 6 wide receiver spots, with him possibly being the slot receiver, and/or return man, but he’ll need to show a lot for the 49ers to be willing to guarantee his entire $1.075 million base salary.
49. WR Mohamed Sanu Sr.
2021 Cap Number: $915,000
Chance At Making Active Roster: 50/50
Analysis: The 49ers signed Sanu last season, but he didn’t last long, as he was released only a few weeks after he was signed, but the 49ers brought him back this offseason, on a 1-year deal, with a $25,000 signing bonus, and a $40,000 roster bonus if he makes the week 1 53-man roster, which he would have a $915,000 cap number. Now Sanu has a solid shot at making the team, as he was said to look good in the 49ers OTAs, so he should be fighting for a spot on the roster at WR.
48. LS Taybor Pepper
2021 Cap Number: $960,000
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: The 49ers signed Taybor Pepper in 2020 after they released Kyle Nelson, who had been with the 49ers as the teams long snapper for quite a few years, but after the struggles, it was clear the 49ers needed an upgrade, and they got it in Pepper, who ended up getting a 2-year deal with the 49ers, so he’s the teams new long snapper for the foreseeable future.
47. P Mitch Wishnowsky
2021 Cap Number: $1,041,018
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: The 49ers made Wishnowsky a 4th-round pick in 2019, which was received with a lot of WTFs? But he has been a good punter for the 49ers, now being ranked 47th isn’t saying that he’s not a good player, because he is, it’s just that this team is so deep, that it was hard to find a spot for the teams specialists, not named Robbie Gould, and Wishnowsky should be a part of the teams long term plans.
46. RB Elijah Mitchell
2021 Cap Number: $704,893
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: The 49ers took Elijah Mitchell out of Louisiana as a 6th-round pick, and at the time, they had a big time logjam at running back, but with the injury to Jeff Wilson Jr., plus the fact that Mitchell is so dynamic, that he just isn’t likely to clear waivers, I have Mitchell as a lock for the 2021 roster, where he very well could end up being the teams returner, maybe even in the long term.
45. WR Trent Sherfield
2021 Cap Number: $920,000
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: The 49ers signed Sherfield after the Arizona Cardinals decided not to tender him as a RFA, and they liked him so much, that they guaranteed him $200,000 of his base salary, so I do see Sherfield as a lock, making the roster, and being a key special teams player for the 49ers, while also potentially chipping in at wide receiver.
44. WR Jalen Hurd
2021 Cap Number: $1,167,186
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: Unfortunately for Hurd, he’s yet to play a down since being made a 3rd-round pick in 2019, but he has made some good impressions, in his only game he played, a preseason game, he caught 2 touchdowns, but also in the process hurt his back, and then in 2020, he tore his ACL, so while he is a lock for 2021, this is the last chance in my opinion for Hurd to show to the 49ers that he can be the teams slot wide receiver, plus be a part of the teams long term plans.
43. LT Jaylon Moore
2021 Cap Number: $740,759
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: The 49ers have really done their best to retool their offensive line, and they added Moore with one of their 3 5th-round picks, and while the 49ers may view Moore as a potential future starters at left guard, I think the 49ers will rely on him being the swing tackle this season, along with Colton McKivitz helping in that department if needed, but either way Moore should be a part of the teams long term plans.
42. LG Colton McKivitz
2021 Cap Number: $862,445
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: McKivitz is a guy who I know the 49ers are very high on, they believe he’ll have a good 2nd-year, as he’s a guy with a lot of versatility, as he can play left tackle, plus both guard spots, so he, along with Jaylon Moore & Daniel Brunskill may end being backups to pretty much all of the offensive line spots, plus he has a chance to be a long term fixture, either as a starter at say left guard, or as the teams swing tackle/guard.
41. RB Wayne Gallman Jr.
2021 Cap Number: $850,000
Chance At Making Active Roster: Lock
Analysis: The 49ers signed Gallman about 2 weeks before the 2021 draft, and at the time it seemed like they would go with Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Gallman, and either a UDFA or JaMycal Hasty, but with them drafting two backs, it then seemed like Gallman would have to fight for a spot, that was until Jeff Wilson Jr. tore his meniscus, which should make Gallman a lock, but he could be pushed by both Elijah Mitchell & JaMycal Hasty.
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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