With the 49ers second preseason game set to kickoff at 7:30 PM EST, I figured I’d make another 53-man roster projection.
OFFENSE:
QB(2): 10 Jimmy Garoppolo(2022)/ 5 Trey Lance(2024)
RB(4): 31 Raheem Mostert(2021)/ 28 Trey Sermon(2024)/ 22 Wayne Gallman II(2021)/ 23 JaMycal Hasty(2021)
FB(1): 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)
WR(6): 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)/ 19 Deebo Samuel(2022)/ 81 Trent Sherfield(2021)/ 18 Mohamed Sanu Sr.(2021)/ 6 Nsimba Webster(2021)/ 15 Jauan Jennings(2021)
TE(4): 85 George Kittle(2025)/ 82 Ross Dwelley(2021)/ 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)/ 84 MyCole Pruitt(2021)
C(2): 50 Alex Mack(2023)/ 60 Daniel Brunskill(2021)
LG(2): 75 Laken Tomlinson(2021)/ 68 Colton McKivitz(2023)
RG(1): 65 Aaron Banks(2024)
LT(2): 71 Trent Williams(2026)/ 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)
RT(1): 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022)
DEFENSE:
DE(5): 97 Nick Bosa(2022)/ 91 Arik Armstead(2024)/ 55 Dee Ford(2022)/ 56 Samson Ebukam(2022)/ 98 Arden Key(2021)
DT(3): 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)/ 90 Kevin Givens(2021)/ 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2021)
NT(2): 93 D.J. Jones(2021)/ 92 Zach Kerr(2021)
WLB(2): 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022)/ 36 Marcell Harris(2021)
MLB(2): 54 Fred Warner(2026)/ 53 Jonas Griffith(2021)
SLB(2): 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2021)/ 48 Mychal Kendricks(2021)
CB(5): 2 Jason Verrett(2021)/ 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022)/ 24 K’Waun Williams(2021)/ 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)/ 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)
FS(2): 1 Jimmie Ward(2022)/ 49 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix(2021)
SS(2): 32 Tavon Wilson(2021)/ 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
PK(1): 9 Robbie Gould(2022)
P(1): 6 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)
LS(1): 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)
INJURED LISTS:
PUP: RB 30 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2021)
Short Term IR: RB 49 Elijah Mitchell(2024)
Short Term IR: WR 14 Jalen Hurd(2022)
IR: WR 83 Austin Watkins Jr.(2021)
IR: RT 67 Justin Skule(2022)
PUP: FS 33 Tarvarius Moore(2021)
IR: FS 25 Tony Jefferson II(2021)
PUP: SS 26 Jaquiski Tartt(2021)
SUSPENDED:
DE 94 Jordan Willis(2021)
PRACTICE SQUAD:
QB 7 Nate Sudfeld*
FB 40 Josh Hokit
WR 86 River Cracraft
TE 88 Jordan Matthews*
C 64 Jake Brendel*
RG 61 Dakoda Shepley
LT 78 Shon Coleman*
RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**
DE 77 Eddie Yarbrough*
DT 95 Kentavius Street
NT 65 Darrion Daniels
SLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
MLB 58 Justin Hilliard
WLB 59 Elijah Sullivan
CB 27 Dontae Johnson*
FS 7 Jared Mayden
FS 43 Kai Nacua
*Denotes player with 3 or more accrued years
**Denotes International Pathway Player who automatically goes on the Practice Squad if the team chooses, but he’s ineligible to play during the season.
With this roster, the 49ers would open 2021 with $2,148,646 in salary cap room, which means they’ll need to restructure at least 1 contract, with Arik Armstead, & Laken Tomlinson being the most logical choices, as they’d save $4.528 million from Armstead, and $2.808 million from Tomlinson.
They’ll need $1,691,176 to payback 17 players’ per game roster bonuses that don’t count against the cap right now, with those 17 players, and the amounts listed below.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – $517,647
RB Raheem Mostert – $132,353
FB Kyle Juszyzck – $23,529
TE George Kittle – $52,941
TE Ross Dwelley – $11,765
C Alex Mack – $70,588
LG Laken Tomlinson – $23,529
LT Trent Williams – $132,353
DE Arik Armstead – $44,118
DE Samson Ebukam – $29,412
NT D.J. Jones – $44,118
NT Zach Kerr – $20,588
SLB Mychal Kendricks – $121,324
WLB Marcell Harris – $5,882
CB Jason Verrett – $235,294
FS Jimmie Ward – $88,235
FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – $137,500
When it comes to the roster itself, I decided to go with just 2 QBs, with Nate Sudfeld being brought back to the teams practice squad, as 3 QBs is just too much, especially when it’s unlikely Sudfeld would suit up, barring an injury, so I decided to keep 2, while keeping MyCole Pruitt as a 4th tight end.
There weren’t any other differences, I still have the same players at each position as last time.
But, when it comes to the offensive line, I have Banks listed at right guard, which I believe he’ll eventually end up there, but to begin 2021, it likely will be Daniel Brunskill’s job, and if Brunskill is needed at center, then Banks moves to the right guard spot.
As for the injured players, no real differences, as I have Elijah Mitchell, & Jalen Hurd going on short term IR, which means they’ll make the initial 53, then be placed on IR the next day when the team signs their practice squad, which will also be the day they’d re-sign whoever they cut to allow both to make the 53, likely Wayne Gallman II, & someone like Mohamed Sanu Sr., Zach Kerr, Mychal Kendricks, or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, only because none of these players will need to go through waivers, so they’ll be told to stay in the bay area, and they’ll be re-signed the same day Mitchell & Hurd are placed on IR.
Again, for those worried, this is a normal thing that happens every year, so don’t worry about losing someone like Gallman, they’ll be brought back.
I won’t go into 2022, as I’ll save that for my post week 2 cutdown projected roster, which, I will release on Wednesday, as teams need to cut down from 85 to 80 players this Tuesday, by 4 PM EST/1 PM PST.
So, check back this Wednesday, the 25th, for a more in depth roster projection.
And, 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
