The preseason is over. The 49ers will cut down their roster to 53 players by 1 p.m. PT Tuesday afternoon, answering some lingering questions. Here is how I anticipate that looking.
Quarterback
In (3): Brock Purdy, Brandon Allen, Josh Dobbs
Out (1): Tanner Mordecai
Confidence in prediction: 75 percent
Again, the 49ers like keeping three quarterbacks. Josh Dobbs came on very strong after a rough start to training camp, and they know what they’re getting with Brandon Allen. Cutting Allen would be a great way to steal another roster spot by keeping him and/or Tanner Mordecai on the practice squad, but my gut says San Francisco keeps three.
Backfield
In (5): Kyle Juszczyk, Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo
Out (4): Cody Schrader, Matt Breida, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Patrick Taylor
Confidence in prediction: 80 percent
I got a little too, er, excited about Cody Schrader. The reality is that he hasn’t shown that elite explosion or wiggle. He’s strong, runs well and picks up blitzes like a veteran. But his lack of burst is apparent, and with Isaac Guerendo back in the fold, I’m not sure how the 49ers can warrant keeping him.
Tight end
In (4): George Kittle, Eric Saubert, Brayden Willis, Jake Tonges
Out (4): Cam Latu, Mason Pline, Logan Thomas
Confidence in prediction: 50 percent
I have changed this prediction multiple times. But I think Jake Tonges has played too well to keep off this roster, and that the 49ers might still believe in Brayden Willis’ upside. Cam Latu? He’s shown me zero reason to stay on the roster. He misses blocks and is a drop threat. Willis misses blocks but has fullback and run-after-catch upside. Tonges, meanwhile, does everything right. He's not an elite athlete, but he has great hands, and executes his assignments pretty reliably. He deserves a spot after his camp.
Wide receiver
In (6): Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley
Out (6): Trent Taylor, Ronnie Bell, Tay Martin, Jontre Kirklin, Robbie Chosen, Danny Gray
Confidence in prediction: 90 percent
Assuming Brandon Aiyuk is on this roster – and nothing should be assumed with him – this is the group. I think the goal would be to keep Robbie Chosen on the practice squad. Swapping him and Conley during the year wouldn’t shock me.
Offensive line
In (9): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Jarrett Kingston, Nick Zakelj
Out (6): Drake Nugent, Sebastian Gutierrez, Chris Hubbard, Lewis Kidd, Brandon Parker, Isaac Alarcon
IR (1): Jon Feliciano
Confidence in prediction: 50 percent
With the 49ers’ stated intention to return Jon Feliciano later in the year, it makes the picture a bit clearer. Nick Zakelj probably makes this team as its backup center, which is probably a statement on familiarity in the system. Drake Nugent looks much more promising in the run game, but struggles to anchor more than Zakelj. Outside of that, there aren’t many question marks other than Jarrett Kingston, who, maybe just by comparison to the other options and having been drafted, should stay on the roster. He’s shown signs of capability, which is what Chris Foerster seeks.
Defensive line
In (8): Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Kevin Givens, Jordan Elliott, Robert Beal Jr., Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos
Out (7): T.Y. McGill, Alex Barrett, Shakel Brown, Evan Anderson, Sam Okuayinonu, Jonathan Garvin
IR (1): Kalia Davis
PUP - out for the year (1): Drake Jackson
Confidence in prediction: 40 percent
This group has eight guys that it will keep, then a bunch of question marks. I would not be shocked if Sam Okuayinonu, Alex Barrett, or even Jonathan Garvin make the team. I also expect that could be temporary, because this team will need to add a veteran presence on the defensive line, especially with Leonard Floyd day to day and Yetur Gross-Matos week to week with knee sprains. Maybe you keep nine here as a placeholder for that veteran, or just because Okuayinonu has flashed something. T.Y. McGill has also been useful in the past, but didn't impress in camp.
Linebackers
In (6): Fred Warner, De’Vondre Campbell, Dee Winters, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Curtis Robinson, Jalen Graham
Out (1): Tatum Bethune
Confidence in prediction: 10 percent
This is the group I truly don’t know what the 49ers will do. They like Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and he knows this defense. He’s a great special teams player. But is he worth keeping off one or two of Curtis Robisnon, Jalen Graham or Tatum Bethune? I’m honestly not sure how the 49ers view the situation. They could keep six or five and neither would shock me.
Corners
In (6): Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Isaac Yiadom, Renardo Green, Rock Ya-Sin, Darrell Luter Jr.
Out (2): Chase Lucas, Samuel Womack
IR - out for year (1): Ambry Thomas
Confidence in prediction: 90 percent
The 49ers gave Womack a chance to play for a roster spot against the Raiders and he didn’t succeed. The group of six is too strong to keep any one of them off, with the one wrinkle being that there’s not a clear backup nickel. Renardo Green figures to be that spot, but he may start at outside corner. Chase Lucas may be a veteran re-sign to the practice squad in that role.
Safeties
In (3): Ji’Ayir Brown, George Odum, Malik Mustapha
Out (3): Tracy Walker, Jaylen Mahoney, Tayler Hawkins
PUP (1): Talanoa Hufanga
Confidence in prediction: 50 percent
The question here is whether Talanoa Hufanga can be ready to go for the start of the season. If not, you keep him on PUP and he misses the first four games of the year. It’s a thin safety group without him, but you can keep Walker on the practice squad and bump him up for the first few games, and probably lean on a lot of single high with Ji’Ayir Brown.
Special teams
In (3): Taybor Pepper, Mitch Wishnowsky, Jake Moody
Out (1): Pressley Harvin
Confidence in prediction: 99 percent
The 49ers aren’t going to have the punt off of we’ve all been hankering for and will almost certain just cut Harvin. He’s been great in the preseason.
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