Taking a look at how the 49ers roster breaks down, into 3 different tiers, locks, 50/50, & longshots, with analysis

With the 49ers training camp underway, and with several roster moves, plus injures , I think today would be a good day to breakdown the 49ers current roster by whether they’re locks, 50/50 to make it, or are longshots.

Locks(Including injured players on PUP & IR):

1. QB 10 Jimmy Garoppolo(2022)- $26,382,353
2. QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $6,200,956
3. RB 31 Raheem Mostert(2021)- $3,600,981
4. RB 28 Trey Sermon(2024)- $885,988
5. RB 49 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $705,893
6. RB 30 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2021)- $2,050,000 (PUP)
7. FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $2,251,471
8. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $2,848,034
9. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2022)- $2,099,279
10. WR 81 Trent Sherfield(2021)- $920,000
11. WR 18 Mohamed Sanu Sr.(2021)- $915,000
12. WR 14 Jalen Hurd(2022)- $1,167,186 (IR)
13. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $5,447,059
14. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2021)- $1,588,235
15. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $825,258
16. C 50 Alex Mack(2023)- $2,979,412
17. C 60 Daniel Brunskill(2021)- $850,000
18. LG 75 Laken Tomlinson(2021)- $6,561,647
19. LG 68 Colton McKivitz(2023)- $862,445
20. RG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,286,110
21. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $8,187,647
22. LT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $740,759
23. RT 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022)- $6,006,052
24. RT 67 Justin Skule(2022)- $894,887 (IR)
25. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2022)- $9,255,509
26. DE 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $12,455,882
27. DE 55 Dee Ford(2022)- $8,909,997
28. DE 56 Samson Ebukam(2022)- $3,720,588
29. DE 98 Arden Key(2021)- $1,045,000
30. DT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $3,520,159
31. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2021)- $850,000
32. DT 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2021)- $1,045,000
33. NT 93 D.J. Jones(2021)- $3,455,882
34. NT 92 Zach Kerr(2021)- $966,912
35. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022)- $930,429
36. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $3,636,547
37. SLB 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2021)- $855,000
38. SLB 36 Marcell Harris(2021)- $1,244,118
39. CB 2 Jason Verrett(2021)- $5,264,706
40. CB 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022)- $2,652,000
41. CB 24 K’Waun Williams(2021)- $1,127,500
42. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $870,154
43. CB 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $731,217
44. FS 1 Jimmie Ward(2022)- $10,911,765
45. FS 33 Tarvarius Moore(2021)- $1,116,093 (PUP)
46. SS 32 Tavon Wilson(2021)- $900,000
47. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $720,038
48. SS 26 Jaquiski Tartt(2021)- $987,500 (PUP)
49. PK 9 Robbie Gould(2022)- $2,609,313
50. P 6 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)- $1,041,018
51. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)- $960,000

50/50:

1. QB 7 Nate Sudfeld(2021)- $850,000
2. QB 3 Josh Rosen(2021)- $850,000
3. RB 22 Wayne Gallman II(2021)- $850,000
4. RB 23 JaMycal Hasty(2021)- $780,000
5. WR 17 Travis Benjamin(2021)- $1,075,000
6. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2021)- $660,000
7. WR 13 Richie James Jr.(2021)- $939,143
8. TE 88 MyCole Pruitt(2021)- $987,500
9. TE 88 Jordan Matthews(2021)- $850,000
10. LT 78 Shon Coleman(2021)- $1,127,500
11. DT 95 Kentavius Street(2021)- $1,002,550
12. WLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2021)- $780,000
13. WLB 48 James Burgess Jr.(2021)- $850,000
14. MLB 59 Elijah Sullivan(2023)- $670,000
15. MLB 53 Jonas Griffith(2021)- $660,000
16. SLB 58 Justin Hilliard(2023)- $670,000
17. SLB — Donald Payne(2021)- $920,000
18. CB 27 Dontae Johnson(2021)- $850,000
19. FS 25 Tony Jefferson II(2021)- $850,000
20. FS — Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix(2021)- $850,000
21. FS 7 Jared Mayden(2021)- $660,000

Longshots:

1. FB 40 Josh Hokit(2021)- $660,000
2. WR 86 River Cracraft(2021)- $850,000
3. WR 3 Nsimba Webster(2021)- $850,000
4. WR 7 Austin Watkins Jr.(2023)- $668,333
5. TE 47 Joshua Perkins(2021)- $920,000
6. C 64 Jake Brendel(2021)- $850,000
7. RG 61 Dakoda Shepley(2021)- $660,000
8. RG 58 Senio Kelemete(2021)- $850,000
9. RG 66 Will Compton(2021)- $850,000
10. LT 62 Corbin Kaufusi(2021)- $660,000
11. LT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2023)- $660,000
12. DE 64 Alex Barrett(2021)- $780,000
13. DE 67 Shilique Calhoun(2021)- $850,000
14. DE 74 Davin Bellamy(2021)- $660,000
15. DE 77 Eddie Yarbrough(2021)- $920,000
16. NT 65 Darrion Daniels(2021)- $660,000
17. CB 40 Ken Webster(2021)- $850,000
18. CB 41Alexander Myres(2021)- $660,000
19. CB 35 B.W. Webb(2021)- $850,000
20. FS 43 Kai Nacua(2021)- $850,000

I obviously left off Jordan Willis as he’s suspended for the first 6 games.

So, I have 51 locks, but of those players, I have 5 on injured lists, leaving 46 locks for the 53-man roster, leaving 7 roster spots open, so let’s look at what positions, and players could take those spots.

If the 49ers do keep 3 quarterbacks, then it’s down to Nate Sudfeld, and Josh Rosen, with Sudfeld apparently having the better camp of the 2, but Rosen has caught up some.

If I had to give the edge, I’d say Sudfeld would win the 3rd QB spot if cuts were today.

The 49ers may very well keep 4 running backs as well all know the 49ers have had injury issues in the backfield, so it makes sense to keep 4 backs, plus Kyle Juszyzck.

The only 2 backs left on the roster are, former Giants Wayne Gallman II, and 2020 UDFA JaMycal Hasty.

Gallman had a very good 2020 with the Giants after Saquon Barkley tore his ACL, while Hasty saw limited action, but he looked good, and promising, but the edge goes to Gallman.

At wide receiver, the 49ers will likely keep 6 of them, with the 4, in my opinion, settled, that leaves Travis Benjamin, Richie James Jr., & Jauan Jennings.

You’ll notice I didn’t mention Jalen Hurd, that’s because he’s appears to not be 100% according to Kyle Shanahan, which is hurting his chances to make the roster, but I’d assume they’d put him on IR after cutdowns, meaning Hurd would be on the initial 53-man roster, with a player with 4 or more accrued seasons being cut, then the next day the 49ers put Hurd on IR, and re-sign whoever they release, and the good thing is whoever would be cut won’t go through waivers.

As of right now, I’d give the edge to Jauan Jennings for one of the spots, while I think it’s truly 50/50 between Benjamin & James, both of which can return kicks & punts.

From reports it looks like James isn’t having the best camp, as he’s been dropping passes in camp, and Kyle Shanahan likely isn’t happy.

And James has had chance after chance after chance to prove he’s a reliable return man, and wide receiver, but he hasn’t, as he usually has 1 good game, but then is nowhere to be seen, plus the issues in the return game, especially on punt returns, where he muffed one in the Super Bowl, and he lost one last year that resulted in points.

As for Benjamin, he opted out of the 2020 season, so it’s not clear where he exactly sits on the depth chart at receiver, and return man.

I would keep Benjamin, but I think Kyle might keep James, but this is truly a 50/50.

The 49ers could very well keep 4 tight ends, with MyCole Pruitt, & Jordan Matthews being the 2 players with the best shot at making the 53-man roster.

On one hand, the 49ers gave Pruitt $637,500 fully guaranteed, which usually is an indication that he would either be a lock or have the upper hand.

On the other hand, we have Matthews, who up until this year was a wide receiver, before adding weight, and converting to tight end.

As far as how they’re doing in camp, Pruitt has been injured, while Matthews has looked good at tight end, catching multiple touchdowns in practice.

As far as who has the edge, I want to say Pruitt due to the guaranteed money, but Matthews solid play in practice may give him the edge, again, this one is really a 50/50, it could go either way.

The 49ers could opt to keep a 9th offensive lineman, with Shon Coleman being the only real option, but the issue for me is that he hasn’t played a game in 3 years, as he was inactive for all 16 games in 2018, while he missed the 2019 season with a torn ACL, and he opted out of the 2020 season, so there could be some concerns if he’s 100%, and may be rusty.

I think the 49ers will go with just the 8 locks that I have, and keep 3 lineman on the practice squad, with one possibly being Coleman, as he’s a vested veteran, and doesn’t have to go through waivers.

This next one is very unlikely to happen, but the 49ers could opt for an 11th defensive lineman, with Kentavius Street, who has had a strong camp, and while he is listed as the backup to Javon Kinlaw on the first unofficial depth chart, ahead of Maurice Hurst Jr.

Now, the key word is unofficial, as the PR department are the ones who put these depth charts together, as they basically go off of practices, and make an educated guess or assumption, but they’re not always correct, as they have Shilique Calhoun listed as a nose tackle, despite the fact he’s only 260 pounds, so there is no way he could play nose tackle, so this proves that these depth charts are really unofficial, and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Next is the battle for the 5th linebacker, with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jonas Griffith, James Burgess Jr., Elijah Sullivan, Justin Hilliard, and the latest signee Donald Payne.

The 49ers signed Payne due to injuries to Azeez Al-Shaair, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

With that being said, I’d give the edge to Flannigan-Fowles, unless his injury prevents him from getting more reps in practice, and snaps in the preseason.

If the 49ers decide to go with a 6th cornerback, then it would be likely be Dontae Johnson, with a chance that Jared Mayden, who can play cornerback, in addition to both safety spots.

Next is the battle for the teams 2nd free safety behind starter Jimmie Ward, which I had Tony Jefferson II, but with him also sidelined right now with injuries to his groin & hamstring, which prompted the 49ers to sign Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix to a 1-year deal.

So, right now, the 49ers have 3 players vying for the backup free safety spot, Jefferson, Clinton-Dix, and Jared Mayden.

Of these 3, it would likely come down to Jefferson & Clinton-Dix, based on how well they play, and if Jefferson is healthy, with that said, I’d still give the edge to Jefferson.

Now, I know I have Tavon Wilson as a lock as strong safety with Jaquiski Tartt on the PUP list, and according to Kyle Shanahan, Tartt is not ready to go, and likely will start 2021 on the PUP list.

But, if for some reason Tartt is ready to start week 1 at strong safety, then Wilson could be in the mix for the backup free safety spot.

So in conclusion, I think it’s a safe bet that they go with 6 wide receiver’s, a 5th linebacker, and of course a backup free safety, plus, despite most 49ers fans, including myself, would like the see the 49ers keep just 2 quarterbacks, but it’s more likely they keep a 3rd QB, so that’s 5 of the 7 spots taken, leaving just 2 spots open.

So, do the 49ers keep a 4th tight end like they have been doing under Shanahan, or a 4th running back, maybe a 9th offensive lineman, or a 11th defensive lineman, or a 6th cornerback.

I would say the team would likely keep a 4th running back, & a 4th tight end, and if they do go with just 2 QBs, then I think the most likely position to fill that roster spot would be a 6th cornerback, which likely would be Dontae Johnson, but I can see Jared Mayden being kept, due to the fact that he can play free safety, strong safety, and cornerback.

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.

About Author

Jason Hurley

Die Hard 49ers fan from New York, been covering the 49ers salary cap since 2005, with several different websites, including NinersNation.com, & the now defunct NinerCapHell, I have a track record of being as accurate as possible, & I try to be as thorough as possible.

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