Today is the day. The San Francisco 49ers and the entire NFL have their deadline to cut down their rosters to 53 players. With the season kicking off on Sunday, September 7th, the initial 53-man roster is far from concrete, but the team does have tough decisions to make. With that being said, let’s get into my final prediction for the first 53-man roster.
QB: Brock Purdy and Mac Jones
This is simple. Purdy and Jones will be the two quarterbacks kept as the 49ers crunch the numbers and sneak players
on at other positions. It’s safe to assume that another QB will join the roster as the emergency third QB on the practice squad. For now, Purdy and Jones will do.
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Brian Robinson, Jr, Isaac Guerendo, Kyle Juszczyk, and Jeff Wilson, Jr. Jordan James (PUP/IR).
McCaffrey and Robinson are your one-two duo, and Juszczyk is a roster staple as the fullback. Guerendo has question marks surrounding his shoulder injury, but the team will use him as a special teams returner for the time being. The only question is whether the team will retain Wilson and if James is ready for Week 1. I believe James is a PUP or IR candidate early in the season, and Kyle Shanahan loves his veterans. Wilson has done enough to instill confidence and make the initial roster.
WR: Brandon Aiyuk (PUP), Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing (IR), Demarcus Robinson (Suspension), Russell Gage, Skyy Moore, Robbie Chosen, and Jordan Watkins
The 49ers usually keep seven receivers, but the question becomes, who will be available for Seattle in Week 1? Let’s say Jennings is healthy; the team will likely play a combination of Jennings, Pearsall, and Chosen. Will Watkins be ready for Week 1? The rookie may not be counted on immediately to contribute. Moore will get a few snaps, but will be the primary punt returner. Surely, this combination will change with the league-wide cuts. Today, the 49ers will roll with this group until further notice.
TE: George Kittle, Luke Ferrell, and Jake Tonges
The top two tight ends are set in stone. Tonges makes the roster as the other pass-catching tight end, and Brayden Willis is sent to the practice squad. Ferrell is the primary run blocker, but Tonges has done enough to stay on the roster. With the release of Ross Dwelley, it clears a path for Tonges.
OL: Trent Williams, Spencer Burford, Ben Bartch, Connor Colby, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Drew Moss, Austen Pleasants
Keeping nine offensive linemen seems to be the plan, with Matt Hennessy relegated to the practice squad. Colby and Moss make the roster as they will be prime to be poached off the practice squad. Burford has done enough to secure the backup left tackle spot, and the team seems to be high on Pleasants as McKivitz’s backup. This group can’t afford any long-term injuries.
DL: Nick Bosa, Bryce Huff, CJ West, Alfred Collins, Mykel Williams, Evan Anderson, Sebastian Valdez, Kalia Davis, Jordan Elliott, and Sam Okuayinonu. Yetur Gross-Matos (PUP), Kevin Givens (IR)
Ten defensive linemen will be on the 53. Sebastian Valdez has raised his stock enough to make the initial 53-man roster. The starting combination is still in the air, and Robert Saleh will need to be creative with his rotations, but while the team waits for Gross-Matos to return to the lineup, it could be Bosa and three rookies in Week 1.
Elliott is primarily a run stopper, but may be the starting defensive tackle on base downs while the rookies acclimate themselves. West and Williams returned to practice, which is a good sign, but they may not be trusted immediately to start.
LB: Fred Warner, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford, Nick Martin, Tatum Bethune, Curtis Robinson (PS)
Warner and Winters are your starters, with Gifford filling in as the third linebacker occasionally on base downs. Gifford’s special teams prowess keeps him on this roster. Martin is Winters’ primary backup, and Bethune is a team favorite and will fill out the depth at the position. Robinson returned with a pick-six on Saturday, but will begin the season on the practice squad.
CB: Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Dallis Flowers, Upton Stout, Chase Lucas, Siran Neal
The toughest decision will be whether the 49ers value Neal’s positional flexibility between CB and safety over Luter’s special teams contributions. Stout and Lucas will be the slot corners, but Lucas was seen playing outside cornerback, which tells me he’s a roster lock.
S: Malik Mustapha (PUP), Jason Pinnock, Marques Sigle, Ji’Ayir Brown, and Richie Grant
While it looks like the 49ers are only keeping four safeties, Siran Neal doubles as a corner and safety for depth purposes. Pinnock and Sigle will start in Seattle, and with Mustapha’s injury, Brown will stick on the roster, bringing experience and depth. Perhaps when Mustapha returns, the 49ers will explore moving Brown, but right now, the depth is thin, so he likely stays put.
Specialists: Jon Weeks, Thomas Morstead, and Jake Moody
Here are your specialists. That’s all I have. Moody is the kicker, for now.
For an in-depth discussion with Andrew Pasquini of Niners Nation, check out the video below:
