My 5th 2023 49ers 53-man roster projection, with practice squad, plus 2023 & 2024 salary cap outlooks with this roster

The 49ers seem confident that Brock Purdy will be ready for training camp, meaning he should be the opening day starting quarterback, so it’s time for my 5th roster projection.

Below are the 91 players signed, with their salary cap number.

1. QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $9,301,434
2. QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $889,253
3. QB 14 Sam Darnold(2023)- $5,711,765
4. QB 4 Brandon Allen(2023)- $1,092,500
5. RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025)- $3,424,000
6. RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $985,893
7. RB 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $1,161,033
8. RB 24 Jordan Mason(2024)- $873,333
9. RB 35 Ronald Awatt(2025)- $750,666
10. RB 36 Khalan Laborn(2025)- $753,333
11. FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $6,565,221
12. FB 49 Jack Colletto(2025)- $753,333
13. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2025)- $8,653,529
14. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,987,248
15. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2023)- $940,000
16. WR/KR/PR 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)- $2,090,000
17. WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- $1,146,569
18. WR 86 Tay Martin(2023)- $750,000
19. WR 84 Dazz Newsome(2023)- $870,000
20. WR 17 Chris Conley(2023)- $1,092,500
21. WR 83 Willie Snead IV(2023)- $965,000
22. WR 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)- $770,482
23. WR 41 Shae Wyatt(2025)- $752,666
24. WR 28 Isaiah Winstead(2025)- $750,333
25. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $18,033,751
26. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $1,055,258
27. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2023)- $1,080,000
28. TE 81 Cameron Latu(2026)- $975,805
29. TE 9 Brayden Willis(2026)- $771,039
30. TE 47 Troy Fumagalli(2023)- $940,000
31. C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $2,272,000
32. C 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)- $2,250,000
33. C 67 Keith Ismael(2023)- $940,000
34. C 61 Corey Luciano(2025)- $751,666
35. LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,929,166
36. LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $917,590
37. RG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,038,014
38. RG 51 Jason Poe(2023)- $750,000
39. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $27,227,424
40. LT 75 Matt Pryor(2023)- $990,000
41. LT 78 Leroy Watson(2023)- $750,000
42. LT 60 Ilm Manning(2025)- $755,000
43. RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)- $1,515,412
44. RT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,020,759
45. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2023)- $750,000
46. RT 66 Joey Fisher(2025)- $755,000
47. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2023)- $17,859,000
48. DE/DT 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023)- $940,000
49. DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,339,180
50. DE 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023)- $2,460,000
51. DE 58 Alex Barrett(2023)- $870,000
52. DE 56 Austin Bryant(2023)- $965,000
53. DE 33 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $814,510
54. DE 69 Spencer Wage(2025)- $753,333
55. DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $23,755,883
56. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2023)- $2,000,000
57. DT/NT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,928,223
58. DT/NT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2023)- $940,000
59. DT 62 Marlon Davidson(2023)- $940,000
60. NT/DT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $6,555,000
61. NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $783,003
62. SLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2023)- $1,825,000
63. SLB 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2023)- $750,000
64. SLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $785,110
65. SLB 50 Jalen Graham(2026)- $770,482
66. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $5,648,558
67. WLB 59 Curtis Robinson(2023)- $940,000
68. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $9,049,000
69. MLB 48 Oren Burks(2023)- $2,773,000
70. MLB 51 Mariano Sori-Marin(2025)- $753,333
71. CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $6,421,000
72. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,305,232
73. CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $1,011,217
74. CB 22 Isaiah Oliver(2024)- $1,686,000
75. CB 26 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $940,831
76. CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight(2023)- $750,000
77. CB 47 A.J. Parker(2023)- $940,000
78. CB 35 Tre Swilling(2023)- $750,000
79. CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $832,555
80. CB 49 D’Shawn Jamison(2025)- $756,666
81. FS 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023)- $2,100,000
82. FS 41 Tayler Hawkins(2023)- $750,000
83. FS 38 Myles Hartsfield(2023)- $1,010,000
84. FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $993,368
85. FS 36 Avery Young(2025)- $751,666
86. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $1,000,038
87. SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $2,340,000
88. PK 10 Zane Gonzalez(2023)- $1,465,000
89. PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $975,805
90. P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $1,700,000
91. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,225,000

Next up is the roster projection by position.

Quarterback(3):

13 Brock Purdy(2025)
5 Trey Lance(2024)
14 Sam Darnold(2023)

Analysis: With the recent rule of a 3rd QB being able to be active without taking up a active gameday roster spot, it’s obvious the 49ers will keep 3 QBs, and I have them going with Purdy as QB1, while Lance & Darnold will be QB2 & QB3.

Running Backs/Fullbacks(5):

23 Christian McCaffrey(2025)
25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)
24 Jordan Mason(2024)
32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)
44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)

Analysis: This is obvious to me, CMC will be the teams lead back, with Mitchell as RB2, while Mason should be RB3, Juice will be the starter at FB, but the question is whether or not they keep 4 RBs or not, I’m going with Davis-Price, but I can see someone like Khalan Laborn kept, or they could just go with 3 backs, and extra somewhere else.

Wide Receivers(6):

19 Deebo Samuel(2025)
11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024)
15 Jauan Jennings(2023)
3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)
6 Danny Gray(2025)
10 Ronnie Bell(2026)

Analysis: I believe the 49ers keep 6 WRs this season, with Deebo & BA being the starters, while Jennings is back as the slot WR, the only competition will be for the last 3 spots, I chose McCloud, Gray, & Bell, as I feel they have, either on offense, or special teams, the upper hand, but look out for Chris Conley, & Willie Snead IV.

Tight Ends(3):

85 George Kittle(2025)
81 Cameron Latu(2026)
9 Brayden Willis(2026)

Analysis: For now I’m going with 3 TEs, with Kittle as the obvious starter, and Latu & Willis as the backups, meaning Ross Dwelley, & Charlie Woerner get cut, but I expect Dwelley back on the practice squad, as he got $700,000 guaranteed in his base salary.

Offensive Lineman(8):

64 Jake Brendel(2026)
65 Aaron Banks(2024)
74 Spencer Burford(2025)
71 Trent Williams(2026)
68 Colton McKivitz(2024)
51 Jon Feliciano(2023)
63 Nick Zakelj(2025)
75 Matt Pryor(2023)

Analysis: I went with just 8 offensive lineman, with the obvious first 5 as starters, Brendel at C, Banks & Burford at LG, & RG, and Trent & McKivitz at LT & RT, with Feliciano, Zakelj, & Pryor as the backups. But look out for Jason Poe, & rookie UDFA Joey Fisher, also don’t count out Jaylon Moore.

Defensive Lineman(10):

97 Nick Bosa(2023)
95 Drake Jackson(2025)
91 Arik Armstead(2024)
98 Javon Hargrave(2026)
94 Clelin Ferrell(2023)
56 Austin Bryant(2023)
33 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)
99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)
90 Kevin Givens(2023)
93 Kalia Davis(2025)

Analysis: I don’t think there’s much unknown as far as who makes the roster, as of now, but Bryant, & Kinlaw aren’t hard locks to make the team, as I can see the team trading Kinlaw, and keeping Kerry Hyder Jr., & T.Y. McGill Jr. on the roster, plus they could opt to keep 11 defensive lineman.

Linebackers(5):

54 Fred Warner(2026)
57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)
48 Oren Burks(2023)
53 Dee Winters(2026)
50 Jalen Graham(2026)

Analysis: I’ve opted to keep the 2 rookie draft picks, over the likes of Marcelino McCrary-Ball, a fan favorite, and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who got $1.25 million fully guaranteed on a 1-year deal, but with the team showing they’re not shy to eat cap room, as they did with Nate Sudfeld, I see them either cutting or trading Flannigan-Fowles, trying to save some of his guaranteed money. Also if Burks doesn’t show up, he might be fighting for a roster spot, and I was tempted to keep McCrary-Ball over Burks.

Cornerbacks(5):

7 Charvarius Ward(2024)
2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)
22 Isaiah Oliver(2024)
26 Samuel Womack III(2025)
28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)

Analysis: This is easy for me, these 5 corners are the 5 I see the 49ers keeping, meaning Ambry Thomas will have to show a lot at corner, and on special teams to make the 53, but I just don’t see it happening, so the team opts to keep just 5 corners.

Safeties(5):

31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023)
29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)
27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)
30 George Odum(2024)
38 Myles Hartsfield(2023)

Analysis: I just don’t see much debate here, these 5 should all make the team, especially with the versatility of Hartsfield, who can play Safety, and Cornerback, and expect Ji’Ayir Brown to be used in 3 Safety sets.

Special Teams(3):

4 Jake Moody(2026)
18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)
46 Taybor Pepper(2025)

Analysis: This is obvious, there’s no way the 49ers keep Zane Gonzalez, and waive 3rd-round pick Jake Moody.

Practice Squad:

QB 4 Brandon Allen*
RB 36 Khalan Laborn
FB 49 Jack Colletto
WR 17 Chris Conley*
WR 83 Willie Snead IV*
TE 82 Ross Dwelley*
C 61 Corey Luciano
RG 51 Jason Poe
G 66 Joey Fisher
T/G 60 Ilm Manning
RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**
DE 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.*
DT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.*
SLB 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball
CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight
CB 49 D’Shawn Jamison
FS 36 Avery Young

As for the 49ers 2023 salary cap situation, they’d be $4,692,111 under their 2023 adjusted cap, but this is before a Nick Bosa contract extension, which would save the team $9.779 million, giving the 49ers $14,471,111 in cap room entering the 2023 season.

As for 2024, the team would be $16,147,043 over the projected 2024 salary cap of $256 million, this includes a projected $12 million salary cap number for Nick Bosa, with 41 players signed, or $24,097,043 over with 51 signed.

But they will have 4 players who will or could see their base salaries escalate in 2024, Talanoa Hufanga, Deommodore Lenoir, Aaron Banks, & Elijah Mitchell, which could put the team as much as $25,680,459 over with 41 players signed, or $33,630,459 over with 51 players signed.

But don’t worry, as I liken 2024 to 2022 when the team was over $20 million over the cap before they were able to restructure George Kittle, & Arik Armstead to get under the cap, and they were able to not only keep then RFA Azeez Al-Shaair on the 2nd-round tender, and sign Mooney Ward to a big money deal, so I expect similar in 2024, and I’ll explain below.

As I’ve mentioned before, the 49ers have ways of creating salary cap room, with them listed below.

RB Christian McCaffrey – $8,472,000 (Restructure)

WR Deebo Samuel – $15,877,600 (Restructure)

TE George Kittle – $9,752,000 (Restructure)

LT Trent Williams – $15,072,000 (Restructure)

DT Arik Armstead – $12,960,000 (Extension or Restructure)

MLB Fred Warner – $11,340,000 (Restructure)

WLB Dre Greenlaw – $5,580,000 (Extension or Restructure)

CB Charvarius Ward – $9,148,000 (Extension or Restructure)

If the 49ers were to extend Armstead, Greenlaw, & Ward, they’d save $27.688 million, while restructuring Deebo Samuel’s deal saves the team $15,877,600, for a total savings of $43,565,600, which would leave the 49ers $17,885,141 in cap room with 40 players signed, or $9,935,141 with 51 players signed.

The team would likely tender Jauan Jennings, who will be a restricted free agent, at the 2^nd-round tender level, which would be $4.901 million, but the 49ers will still be able to bring back whatever free agents on cheap 1-year deals, while adding some vets on 1-year deals, and making 1 splash signing on a multi-year deal.

I also need to remind people that the 49ers can save cap room with a Brandon Aiyuk extension, which I do believe will happen, as well as the team will have adjustments/credits, and carryover, as none of the aforementioned cap room numbers were calculated into the 2024 numbers.

With that said, thank you for reading, and follow me on Twitter @49erscap for more salary cap information, & tidbits.

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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