Taking a look at how the 49ers roster breaks down, into 3 different tiers, locks, 50/50, & longshots, with analysis, post cut down to 85 active players

With the 49ers trimming their 90-man roster down to 85 players, now is a good time to look at how the current roster breaks down into 3 different tiers, locks, 50/50, and longshots.

Locks(Including 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
13. WR 83 Austin Watkins Jr.(2023)- $423,333 (IR)
14. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $5,447,059
15. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2021)- $1,588,235
16. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $825,258
17. C 50 Alex Mack(2023)- $2,979,412
18. C 60 Daniel Brunskill(2021)- $850,000
19. LG 75 Laken Tomlinson(2021)- $6,561,647
20. LG 68 Colton McKivitz(2023)- $862,445
21. RG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,386,110
22. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $8,187,647
23. LT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $740,759
24. RT 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022)- $6,006,052
25. RT 67 Justin Skule(2022)- $894,887 (IR)
26. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2022)- $9,255,509
27. DE 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $12,455,882
28. DE 55 Dee Ford(2022)- $8,909,997
29. DE 56 Samson Ebukam(2022)- $3,720,588
30. DE 98 Arden Key(2021)- $1,045,000
31. DT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $3,520,159
32. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2021)- $780,000
33. DT 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2021)- $1,045,000
34. NT 93 D.J. Jones(2021)- $3,455,882
35. NT 92 Zach Kerr(2021)- $966,912
36. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022)- $930,429
37. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $3,636,547
38. SLB 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2021)- $855,000
39. SLB 36 Marcell Harris(2021)- $1,244,118
40. CB 2 Jason Verrett(2021)- $5,264,706
41. CB 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022)- $2,652,000
42. CB 24 K’Waun Williams(2021)- $1,127,500
43. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $870,154
44. CB 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $731,217
45. FS 1 Jimmie Ward(2022)- $10,911,765
46. FS 33 Tarvarius Moore(2021)- $1,116,093 (PUP)
47. FS 25 Tony Jefferson II(2021)- $465,000 (IR)
48. SS 32 Tavon Wilson(2021)- $900,000
49. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $720,038
50. SS 26 Jaquiski Tartt(2021)- $987,500 (PUP)
51. PK 9 Robbie Gould(2022)- $2,609,313
52. P 6 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)- $1,041,018
53. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)- $960,000

50/50:

1. QB 7 Nate Sudfeld(2021)- $850,000
2. RB 22 Wayne Gallman II(2021)- $850,000
3. RB 23 JaMycal Hasty(2021)- $780,000
4. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2021)- $660,000
5. WR 6 Nsimba Webster(2021)- $850,000
6. WR 17 Travis Benjamin(2021)- $1,075,000
7. WR 13 Richie James Jr.(2021)- $939,143
8. TE 84 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 Mychal Kendricks(2021)- $850,000
14. MLB 53 Jonas Griffith(2021)- $660,000
15. CB 27 Dontae Johnson(2021)- $850,000
16. FS 49 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix(2021)- $850,000
17. 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. C 64 Jake Brendel(2021)- $850,000
4. RG 61 Dakoda Shepley(2021)- $660,000
5. RG 58 Senio Kelemete(2021)- $850,000
6. RG 66 Tom Compton(2021)- $850,000
7. LT 62 Corbin Kaufusi(2021)- $660,000
8. LT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2023)- $660,000
9. DE 64 Alex Barrett(2021)- $780,000
10. DE 77 Eddie Yarbrough(2021)- $920,000
11. DE 67 Shilique Calhoun(2021)- $850,000
12. NT 65 Darrion Daniels(2021)- $660,000
13. MLB 59 Elijah Sullivan(2023)- $670,000
14. SLB 58 Justin Hilliard(2023)- $670,000
15. CB 41 Alexander Myres(2021)- $660,000
16. CB 35 B.W. Webb(2021)- $850,000
17. CB — Davontae Harris(2021)- $920,000
18. FS 43 Kai Nacua(2021)- $850,000

I’ve, obviously, left off Jordan Willis, who is suspended for the first 6 games of the 2021 season.

So, I have 53 locks, but of those players, I have 6 on injured lists, while 2 more who could end up on short term IR(Elijah Mitchell & Jalen Hurd), so that’s 45 spots locked up, which leaves 8 spots open.

If the 49ers keep a 3rd quarterback, then it’s going to be Nate Sudfeld, as the 49ers released Josh Rosen, leaving Sudfeld as the final QB on the roster.

At running back, I see them keeping 4, with Gallman, Hasty, & Mitchell in the competition, but I don’t see any of these 3 being let go, as what will likely happen, is, if Mitchell is still hurt, he’ll make the initial 53, but then be placed on short term IR the next day, so he only has to miss 3 games, with the team bringing back Gallman the day that they place Mitchell on IR, since Gallman doesn’t have to go through waivers.

At wide receiver, it’s unknown who will be the 5th & 6th wide receiver, with Benjamin, Jennings, Webster, & James in the running, along with Hurd, who I also can see being put on short term IR.

Benjamin has the return experience, as does Webster, who really looked good in the teams preseason opener, while James didn’t look good at all, and Jennings had a very nice game, so I’m leaning towards Jennings & Webster, with Hurd on IR.

If the 49ers decide to keep a 4th tight end, then it’s down to MyCole Pruitt & Jordan Matthews, with Pruitt having the biggest guarantee, but being injured at the time being, while Matthews looked good in the preseason opener.

So, if the teams decides to go with a 4th TE, then I’d say the leverage goes to Matthews, but there is time for Pruitt to come back, and potentially win a spot on the teams 53.

If the 49ers decide that they need a 9th offensive lineman, then the guy will most likely be Shon Coleman, but if all 8 locks are healthy, I don’t see a need for 9 lineman, when you can sign Coleman to the practice squad.

Now, this is a huge unlikely to happen, but if the 49ers keep 11 defensive lineman, then the 11th is Kentavius Street, who has an opportunity to steal a spot from someone on the interior of the defensive line.

The 49ers will most likely keep at least 5 linebackers, maybe even 6, so those spots would be down to newly signed Mychal Kendricks, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, & Jonas Griffith.

If they keep just 5, then it’s likely down to Kendricks or Flannigan-Fowles, if they keep 6, then Griffith would be a solid candidate as the 6th linebacker.

If the team keeps 6 cornerbacks, then Dontae Johnson is the top choice, also don’t rule out Jared Mayden, who can play both safety spots, and cornerback.

Then we have the backup free safety spot, which will most likely go to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, while Mayden can’t be counted out, but Clinton-Dix has the experience.

Now, I also would put Tavon Wilson in there, that’s if Jaquiski Tartt is ready week 1, then I would keep 5 safeties, Ward, Tartt, Hufanga, Clinton-Dix, & Wilson on the 53.

With all of that said, I think it’s safe to say they’ll keep 4 running backs, with either Mitchell on short term IR, Gallman & Hasty on the 53, if Mitchell is on the 53, then I’d give Gallman the edge for the last RB spot.

They’ll also likely keep 6 wide receivers, with, in my opinion, Nsimba Webster, & Jauan Jennings being the final 2, with Jalen Hurd starting on short term IR, but if Hurd is good to go, plays the last 2 preseason games, earns a 53 man spot, I think the team would keep Hurd over Jennings, but I wouldn’t be opposed to having 7 on the 53.

It’s also obvious the team will keep a 5th linebacker, which in my opinion goes to Mychal Kendricks, if they keep 6 then I’d keep Jonas Griffith.

The team will have a 2nd FS, with Clinton-Dix as the favorite here in my opinion.

So, that’s 6 or 7 spots, leaving 1-2 spots open, so if they do go with a 3rd QB, then it’s Sudfeld, but I think I speak for most of 49ers fans, when I say, it’d be nice to see the 49ers keep just Jimmy & Trey, while keeping a player they don’t want to lose, maybe 7 WRs if Hurd is healthy.

So, this is what I would do if they keep only 2 QBs, 3rd & 4th running backs in Wayne Gallman II, & JaMycal Hasty, if Elijah Mitchell goes on short term IR, 5th & 6th wide receivers in Nsimba Webster, & Jauan Jennings, 5th & 6th linebackers in Mychal Kendricks, & Jonas Griffith, 2nd free safety in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, while the 8th open spot would go to either a 7th wide receiver(Jalen Hurd), 4th tight end(MyCole Pruitt or Jordan Matthews), a 9th offensive lineman(Shon Coleman), an 11th defensive lineman(Kentavius Street), or a 6th cornerback(Dontae Johnson), which, is a tough choice, as the only players here who would go through waivers if cut, are Hurd, & Street the others don’t, but there will be a good amount of tough calls to make for Kyle Shanahan & John Lynch.

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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