Last month I did 2 separate pieces on 5 players who are in danger of losing their roster spot, along with 5 players who could sneak their way onto the 2021 roster.<\/p>\n
So today I\u2019m going to go over 5 offensive players that are in a make or break season, players who are either under contract for 2022, or are players who need to have a breakout season in order to be brought back.<\/p>\n
Running Back Raheem Mostert:<\/strong><\/p>\n It may be a surprise to see the 49ers leading rusher back in 2019 to be on this list, but Mostert has had a very hard time staying healthy, despite his high production.<\/p>\n Mostert needs to play as close to 17 games as possible for him to be offered a new contract, plus show the production that he showed back in 2019, when the 49ers made their run to the super bowl.<\/p>\n On thing that could keep the 49ers from keeping Mostert is, his price tag, he asked the 49ers for a raise in 2020, something comparable to what Tevin Coleman was making, but eventually the 49ers didn\u2019t extend him, but did bump his 2021 salary up to $2.975 million, and gave him a $250,000 signing bonus, but that won\u2019t be enough to retain Mostert, so 2021 will be an interesting season.<\/p>\n Also, with the 49ers drafting two backs, mainly Trey Sermon, he could make Mostert expendable after 2021.<\/p>\n Running Back Jeff Wilson Jr.:<\/strong><\/p>\n Like with Mostert, Wilson really needs to have a breakout season to be considered apart of the teams long term plans, and also like Mostert, Wilson was the teams leading rusher in 2020.<\/p>\n Of course, we all know that Wilson suffered a torn meniscus during the 49ers offseason workout program, so he won’t be back till late October to early November.<\/p>\n But if Wilson can come back, make an impact during the rest of the season, and also be productive in the playoffs, if the 49ers make it, then he has a good chance of being brought back, but like with Mostert, the 49ers drafting of 2 backs might make Wilson expendable, but I’d expect the 49ers to bring back one of the two backs in 2022.<\/p>\n Wide Receiver Jalen Hurd:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hurd missed his first 2 seasons due to injuries, a back injury in 2019, and a torn ACL in 2020, so this season is really a make or break type of season for him.<\/p>\n Hurd showed promise in his 1 preseason game back in 2019 when he caught two touchdowns, but the 49ers have yet to see him play any meaningful snaps.<\/p>\n In order for Hurd to keep ahold of his spot on the team, he needs to win that 3rd WR spot, be the Slot WR, and just be a do-it-all player, something like a hybrid WR\/TE.<\/p>\n Hurd has all the talent in the world, from when he was a running back at Tennessee, all the way to when he converted to being a wide receiver at Baylor, so I think everyone has their eye on Jalen, and hope he can carve out a long term spot.<\/p>\n Left Guard Laken Tomlinson:<\/strong><\/p>\n While Tomlinson has been a great addition during the Shanahan\/Lynch tenure, and being a great run blocker, he hasn\u2019t been the best pass protector.<\/p>\n Tomlinson has also been kind of an iron man, playing nearly all of the snaps at left guard since the 49ers traded for him.<\/p>\n Now, you may ask why is this a make or break year for Tomlinson? Well, for one, he needs to improve his pass protection, but also the fact that in the last 2 drafts, the 49ers selected 3 interior lineman, Colton McKivitz, Aaron Banks, & Jaylon Moore, so the 49ers could end up having one of these players be the new left guard, with the other being the teams right guard.<\/p>\n Right Tackle Mike McGlinchey:<\/strong><\/p>\n While McGlinchey is one of the best run blocking right tackles in the NFL, he does lack a lot in the pass protection area, so 2021 could be a make or break season.<\/p>\n Now, yes, the 49ers exercised his 5th-year option, which guarantees him $10.808 million in 2022, but that doesn\u2019t mean the 49ers couldn\u2019t try & trade him, even if it only nets a late round pick, or the 49ers are forced to swap picks.<\/p>\n