With the 49ers rookie minicamp over, it’s time to take a look at the roster as it stands in my eyes, as well as my latest projected roster for 2022, along with a look at the 49ers 2023 cap situation, both as of now, & with this projected roster.<\/p>\n
Below is how I currently see the 2022 roster as it stands, with locks in bold.<\/p>\n
Offense:<\/strong><\/p>\n QB(4):\u00a05 Trey Lance(2024),<\/strong>\u00a010 Jimmy Garoppolo(2022),<\/em>\u00a07 Nate Sudfeld(2022),<\/strong>\u00a0& 14 Brock Purdy(2025) Defense:<\/strong><\/p>\n DE(9):\u00a097 Nick Bosa(2023), 56 Samson Ebukam(2022), 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2022), 53 Kemoko Turay(2022),\u00a0<\/strong>94 Charles Omenihu(2022),\u00a095 Drake Jackson(2025),<\/strong>\u00a075 Jordan Willis(2022), 55 Dee Ford(2022), & 58 Alex Barrett(2022) Special Teams:<\/strong><\/p>\n PK(1):\u00a09 Robbie Gould(2022)<\/strong> Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n At quarterback, I just can\u2019t see how the 49ers can justify keeping Garoppolo on the 53-man roster, or even letting him play preseason games, not when the team needs that $25 million in cap room for 1. 2022 and 2. To carryover into 2023.<\/p>\n At running back, I see JaMycal Hasty as the odd man out, especially after the Tyrion Davis-Price pick.<\/p>\n When it comes to the teams\u2019 wide receivers, I think it\u2019s possible that they keep 5, but head coach Kyle Shanahan usually keeps 6 wide receivers, so if that continues, it should come down to the two veterans that they signed, Malik Turner, & Marcus Johnson, with Turner being the guy that I see making it if they do carry 6.<\/p>\n The tight end position is pretty much set, barring an injury or roster move, but, I do wish they would have addressed the #2 TE spot in the draft, but hopefully Ross Dwelley can improve from 2021, because he didn\u2019t look particularly great or even good, with Charlie Woerner overtaking him as the #2 TE.<\/p>\n On the offensive line there are a lot of questions to be answered, like, who will be the teams\u2019 right guard? Left guard? Center? Will Alex Mack come back? I can\u2019t give definitive answers, but my feeling is Mack returns, Aaron Banks at left guard, & Jaylon Moore at right guard, with Spencer Burford being a swing Tackle, who should see time at right tackle, either in preseason, or regular season, depending on Mike McGlinchey\u2019s health, and I expect Daniel Brunskill, & Colton McKivitz to win backup spots, as they\u2019re both versatile, and still young.<\/p>\n On the defensive line, I think 5 of the 6 EDGE rusher spots are locked in, barring injuries or bad play, with the team looking at either Jordan Willis or Charles Omenihu as the 6th<\/sup>\u00a0EDGE rusher, as for the interior part of the defensive line, I expect the backup 3-Technique to come down to Kevin Givens, or Maurice Hurst Jr., while Javon Kinlaw, & Hassan Ridgeway will play that 2i position, which is where I envision Kalia Davis, being a big nose tackle, but, Davis will start the season on reserve\/NFI due to a torn ACL from last October, but this is a very deep group, maybe deeper than 2019? Definitely 2020 & 2021.<\/p>\n At linebacker, I see them keeping 4, so unless they decide to go thin at another spot, then they should go with just 4, as this is a norm for the 49ers since Kyle Shanahan, & John Lynch came in.<\/p>\n When it comes to the cornerback spot, I see both Samuel Womack, & Tariq Castro-Fields making it, along with Deommodore Lenoir, as I just can\u2019t see any of them clearing waivers, with Dontae Johnson likely starting on the practice squad, and Jason Verrett beginning on reserve\/PUP list or reserve\/injured-designated-for-return list.<\/p>\n At the safety position is uncertainty, not at free safety, as Jimmie Ward will start, but at strong safety, where it\u2019s going to come down to Tarvarius Moore, Talanoa Hufanga, or George Odum, with, in my opinion, Moore having the edge.<\/p>\n Now when it comes to the special teams unit, I believe it will be much better, with the likes of Oren Burks, George Odum added, plus new returner Ray-Ray McCloud, & 3rd<\/sup>-round pick Danny Gray, who does have some experience, albeit, limited, at returning, so McCloud should be the teams\u2019 primary returner, with Gray being the backup.<\/p>\n As for the teams\u2019 undrafted free agents, I feel the players with the best chance to make the 53-man roster are, centers Dohnovan West, & Jason Poe, linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, & strong safety Leon O\u2019Neal Jr.<\/p>\n With all of that said, this is what my updated 53-man roster, practice squad, & injured lists would look like.<\/p>\n 53-Man Roster:<\/strong><\/p>\n Practice Squad:<\/strong><\/p>\n Injured Lists:<\/strong><\/p>\n With this roster the 49ers would have a cap commitment of $180,657,069, with $14,631,528 in dead money, for a total cap commitment of $195,068,598, leaving the 49ers $18,083,897 under their 2022 adjusted salary cap, which means they can carryover between $10 million to $12 million to 2023, while reserving between $6 million to $8 million for in season roster moves.<\/p>\n With this update I added in center Dohnovan West, & strong safety Leon O\u2019Neal Jr., while bumping center Jake Brendel, & defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr. to the practice squad, as I\u2019m not sure either West or O\u2019Neal clear waivers, and I was tempted to put center Jason Poe, & weakside linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel on the 53, hopefully they clear waivers.<\/p>\n Some other things, if Alex Mack does retire, then Jake Brendel becomes the favorite to be the teams\u2019 starting center, but don\u2019t be shocked if West or Poe end up being the starter, with the other being the backup, it\u2019s not the most ideal situation, but it would at least mean we have 2 centers signed for 3-years, to play, & grow into NFL players.<\/p>\n When it comes to Jimmy Garoppolo, I just, as I said before, see no way the 49ers keep him, he costs too much, while he\u2019s not hindering the 49ers salary cap wise, & free agent wise, it is annoying that he\u2019s here, and we still have the talk that Trey isn\u2019t ready, which is pure bullshit in my opinion.<\/p>\n At running back, I am tempted to drop Jeff Wilson Jr. to the practice squad, he does have $530,000 fully guaranteed, but Kyle Shanahan always keeps 4 backs, ever since 2019, so I think he makes it, as of now, and if not him, I can see Jacob Mason, or another veteran brought in, or the team might choose to go 3 RBs, & 6 WRs, with Maik Turner being my favorite for a potential 6th<\/sup> spot, which I don\u2019t think is necessary.<\/p>\n I went over the center spot, but the one spot I\u2019m concerned about is the interior offensive line, I do like Aaron Banks, & Jaylon Moore, but they\u2019re just 2nd<\/sup>-year players, so I\u2019m worried about it, and if Mack doesn\u2019t come back, it becomes something that will be an issue, or worrying a lot of fans all year, unless they sign a J.C. Tretter to play center.<\/p>\n Defensive wise, when it comes to the defensive line, I like the group I have here, but I can see Jordan Willis over Charles Omenihu, or Hurst over both, I think 9 of the 10 spots are pretty much locked up, so that 10th<\/sup>, and potentially 11th<\/sup> defensive lineman spots are up for grabs.<\/p>\n Linebacker wise, I like the idea of just 4, as I can see Hufanga playing some linebacker if needed.<\/p>\n As for Talanoa Hufanga, I don\u2019t know if he begins as the starting strong safety, or if it\u2019ll be George Odum, or Leon O\u2019Neal Jr., or my personal choice Tarvarius Moore, but the strong safety spot is the other spot I\u2019m concerned about.<\/p>\n Cornerback wise, I like the 6 I have there, I\u2019d rather go youth, while risking losing someone like Castro-Fields, or Lenoir to waivers.<\/p>\n Now, the team would get back some money in 2023, up-to $350,000 for Malik Turner, up-to $250,000 for Marcus Johnson, up-to $560,000 for Dontae Johnson, and base salary guarantees for UDFAs, like Jeremiah Gemmel($70,000), Jason Poe($65,000), Marcelino McCrary-Ball($100,000), this is of course depended on these players making enough money during the 2022 season, so that\u2019s potentially extra cap room they could get for 2023 in a form of adjustments\/credits.<\/p>\n Anyway, there you have it, my updated roster projection.<\/p>\n
\nRB(6):\u00a025 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 22 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2022), 28 Trey Sermon(2024), 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025),<\/strong>\u00a023 JaMycal Hasty(2022), & 41 Jordan Mason(2024)
\nFB(2):\u00a044 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025),<\/strong>\u00a0& 40 Josh Hokit(2022)
\nWR(11):\u00a019 Deebo Samuel(2022), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023), 15 Jauan Jennings(2022), 3 Ray-Ray McCloud(2023), 86 Danny Gray(2025),<\/strong>\u00a017 Malik Turner(2022), 6 Marcus Johnson(2022), 81 Austin Mack(2022), 13 KeeSean Johnson(2022), 49 Tay Martin(2024), & 24 Taysir Mack(2024)
\nTE(6):\u00a085 George Kittle(2025), 89 Charlie Woerner(2023), 82 Ross Dwelley(2022),<\/strong> 84 Tanner Hudson(2022), 88 Jordan Matthews(2022), & 47 Troy Fumagalli(2022)
\nC(4):\u00a050 Alex Mack(2023),<\/strong>\u00a064 Jake Brendel(2022), 61 Dohnovan West(2024), & 62 Jason Poe(2024)
\nOG(5):\u00a065 Aaron Banks(2024), 76 Jaylon Moore(2024), 60 Daniel Brunskill(2022),<\/strong>\u00a063 Nick Zakelj(2025), & 66 Keaton Sutherland(2022)
\nOT(7):\u00a071 Trent Williams(2026), 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022), 74 Spencer Burford(2025), 68 Colton McKivitz(2022),<\/strong>\u00a067 Justin Skule(2022), 78 Sam Schlueter(2024), & 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2022)<\/p>\n
\nDT(4):\u00a091 Arik Armstead(2024),<\/strong>\u00a090 Kevin Givens(2022), 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2022), & 77 Kevin Atkins(2024)
\nNT(4):\u00a099 Javon Kinlaw(2023), 98 Hassan Ridgeway(2022),<\/strong>\u00a093 Kalia Davis(2025),<\/strong>\u00a0& 78 Chris Slayton(2022)
\nLB(9):\u00a054 Fred Warner(2026), 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022), 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2022), 48 Oren Burks(2023),<\/strong>\u00a045 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022), 59 Curtis Robinson(2022), 47 Jeremiah Gemmel(2024), 49 Segun Olubi(2024), & 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2024)
\nCB(11):\u00a035 Charvarius Ward(2024), 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022), 20 Ambry Thomas(2024), 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024),<\/strong>\u00a027 Dontae Johnson(2022),\u00a026 Samuel Womack(2025), 36 Tariq Castro-Fields(2025), 2 Jason Verrett(2022),<\/strong> 31 Darqueze Dennard(2022), 24 Ka\u2019dar Hollman(2022), & 43 Qwuantrezz Knight(2024)
\nS(6):\u00a01 Jimmie Ward(2022), 33 Tarvarius Moore(2022), 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024), 30 George Odum(2024)<\/strong>, 14 Leon O\u2019Neal Jr.(2024), & 41 Tayler Hawkins(2024)<\/p>\n
\nP(1):\u00a018 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)<\/strong>
\nLS(1):\u00a046 Taybor Pepper(2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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