On Monday, we discussed a couple of potential surprise cuts on the San Francisco 49ers. I went in-depth with Rob Lowder on the same topic. Where I had Demarcus Robinson falling victim to a numbers game, he believes the same could be true for wide receiver Christian Kirk.
Today we’ll spin it to surprise makes. It won’t be easy for somebody on the offensive side to make the roster unexpectedly. You cannot say the same for a defense that added a new defensive coordinator and is coming off a season with
one of the worst pass rushes and coverage units in the league.
2 surprise roster “makes”
Larry Worth III
We made the argument for moving on from Ji’Ayir Brown. The team won’t part ways with Brown unless someone else is capable of filling in for him. Maybe that person isn’t on the roster yet. But what if he is?
My longshot is Larry Worth III. He is listed as a linebacker and is wearing a number in the 40s, but his positional versatility is something the 49ers should take advantage of. Look at the different spots Worth III lined up in a game against Notre Dame last season:
An off-ball linebacker walked down head-up over a tight end, mugged up in the A-gap as a blitzer, lined up over a slot receiver, and played as a deep safety.
Worth III is a superb athlete, too. He’s 6’2″, 226 pounds. He ran a 4.66 40-yard dash, which may not impress. However, he had a 37.5″ vertical and an 11-foot-2-inch broad jump. That broad jump would’ve tied Sonny Styles for the longest at the NFL Combine at his position.
I’d look at Worth III more as a positionless player who can do multiple jobs. Add in his athleticism, and at the very worst, he could cover kicks for you on special teams and give you a look on scout team in practice. With a little seasoning, he could be a player you use in sub-packages when you’re trying to field a defense full of speed.
Worth III played on a horrific defense in college, so his skill set flew under the radar. The 49ers would be wise to put him into different roles, much like in college, and not let an athlete like this walk out the door.
Mikail Kamara
Rob’s pick was Kamara. Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Keion White, Sam Okuayinonu, Romello Height. Kamara is fighting an uphill battle.
He’s on the small side at 6’0 5/8″ and 250 pounds. Size, length, strength, and bend go against him. But Kamara found ways to win for the national champions. He’s a 6th-year senior with a high motor and an impressive pass rush repertoire.
Kamara had the 13th-best pressure rate in the class. To me, he’s more of a “clean-up” sack guy, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. During the preseason, Kamara will go against third- and fourth-stringers fighting for their lives to make the roster. He’ll be in a prime position to put up good numbers.
Kamara can help himself if he proves he can rush the passer from both the edge and the interior. If he can hold up against the run, even better.
