The 49ers’ roster is loaded. Query marks beneath middle loom over a really gifted group although since shoddy quarterback play can finally undo even probably the most gifted group.
We started the train of rating the 49ers’ place teams with the thought there’d be a pair powerful choices on the place to position every group. It seems it’s a lot tougher than that.
Nice top-end expertise adopted by some query marks of various sizes outline virtually each place for San Francisco. Making an attempt to weigh expertise, potential, star energy and high quality of depth turns into an virtually inconceivable train for the reason that 49ers have so many good gamers atop the depth chart.
There’s a pair positions that undoubtedly go close to the highest, and a pair which might be definitely towards the underside. All the things in between may be blended and matched.
We’ll rework these rankings a pair instances all year long, however that is what it seems to be like going into the 2022 season:
Linebacker
Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK
Fred Warner
Dre Greenlaw
Azeez Al-Shaair
Oren Burks
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
This group is tremendous gifted and spearheaded by Warner, the perfect off-ball linebacker within the league. Controlling the quick and intermediate space of the sector is so key towards trendy offenses, and the 49ers’ LBs do it in addition to any group within the league.
Defensive position
Nick Bosa
Samson Ebukam
Drake Jackson
Charles Omenihu
Arik Armstead
Javon Kinlaw
Kevin Givens
Kerry Hyder
Hassan Ridgeway
Jordan Willis
The 49ers’ entrance seven comprising the highest two positions on the roster isn’t an accident. They need their defensive position to be dominant, and this yr’s group is each high heavy and deep. It wouldn’t be a shock if that they had 5 gamers eclipse the 6.0 sack mark, and their capability to throw recent rushers at opposing offensive traces for 4 quarters will make them particularly powerful late in video games.
Large receiver
Deebo Samuel
Brandon Aiyuk
Jauan Jennings
Ray-Ray McCloud
Danny Grey
The receivers profit from having two gamers atop the depth chart who’ve no less than flashed star capability. The remainder of the receiving corps nonetheless has to show themselves. Samuel was a First-Staff All-Professional final season and maybe probably the most distinctive offensive weapon within the league, whereas Aiyuk tallied 826 yards and 5 touchdowns regardless of spending the primary six weeks within the proverbial canine home. Jennings got here on robust late within the yr as a possession receiver, and McCloud and Grey each supply velocity that may take the highest off of defenses.
Specialists
Robbie Gould
Mitch Wishnowsky
Taybor Pepper
Look. It’s not flashy, however specialists matter and the 49ers’ group of Gould, Wishnowsky and Pepper are constantly good. They’re the one place on the roster with none query marks entering into. Gould related on 20 of 23 makes an attempt final yr along with his solely misses coming from 40-plus yards out. Wishnowsky could not have a booming leg with monster averages, however he’s directional punter who often forces honest catches and pins groups deep. Pepper simply snaps the heck out of the ball. Spirals on the cash each time. Elite.
Cornerback
Charvarius Ward
Emmanuel Moseley
Samuel Womack
Ambry Thomas
Deommodore Lenoir
This was a bunch that spent final yr constantly on the backside of this checklist. There’s an opportunity it finishes the yr there relying on how Womack performs on the nickel, and what Thomas and Lenoir appear to be in the event that they should play for Ward or Moseley. Simply having an improved secondary will dramatically elevate the protection’s ceiling.
Quarterback
Trey Lance
Jimmy Garoppolo
Brock Purdy
This was the hardest group to rank so we wedged them within the center. If Lance is sweet, this turns into maybe the perfect all-around QB room within the league with Garoppolo working because the backup. If Lance struggles, they’ll nonetheless be okay as a result of Garoppolo provides them a comparatively excessive flooring. The QBs gained’t rank decrease than this on the roster. It could actually get larger although, and the upper this group climbs, the higher the 49ers Tremendous Bowl probabilities might be.
Working again
Elijah Mitchell
Jeff Wilson Jr.
Tyrion Davis-Worth
Jordan Mason
RB and QB are principally interchangeable. Mitchell had first yr, however he additionally handled a number of accidents that restricted him to solely 11 video games. Wilson is a pleasant No. 2 again, however Davis-Worth and Mason are each unknown portions. If Mitchell is wholesome and one among Davis-Worth or Mason work their means into the rotation, the RBs will transfer up.
Tight finish
George Kittle
Charlie Woerner
Ross Dwelley
Tyler Kroft
It feels inconceivable to place a place group this low when the perfect all-around TE within the league sits atop the depth chart. The choices behind him aren’t nice although. Woerner has developed into run blocker, however he’s not a lot of a go catcher. Dwelley has seen his roll diminish some during the last couple seasons and Kroft is in his first yr with the membership. The shortage of high quality depth behind Kittle knocks the TEs down regardless that Kittle is really elite.
Security
Jimmie Ward
Talanoa Hufanga
Tarvarius Moore
George Odum
An harm to Ward definitely doesn’t assist the security rating, however their depth total simply has too many query marks to place them within the combine with the few positions forward of them. Ward is an effective participant and Hufanga seems to be to be no less than a top quality starter though he’s but to play a full season because the robust security. Moore had an up-and-down preseason and Odum’s NFL success has come on particular groups. The protection room isn’t a catastrophe by any means, however they lack the top-end expertise and depth different positions have going into the yr.
Offensive line
Trent Williams
Mike McGlinchey
Colton McKivitz
Jake Brendel
Daniel Brunskill
Aaron Banks
Jaylon Moore
Spencer Burford
Nick Zakelj
Blake Hance
Trent Williams is nice. He’s undeniably a Corridor of Famer and within the argument for finest participant within the NFL. Everybody else on the offensive line is an enormous query mark. For now this unit is the group’s worst. Banks, Brendel and Burford have a ton to show.