49ers' way-too-early 53-man roster projection

The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, and the San Francisco 49ers picked eight players.

That's great for the reigning NFC Champions, who clearly needed an infusion of younger players on the roster.

It's bad for those of us tasked with trying to make an early prediction of the 53-man group for the 2024 season.

Still, I gave it my best shot.

Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2024 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2024 undrafted free agents.

Quarterback (3)

IN: Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen
OUT: Tanner Mordecai**

The Skinny: Purdy's elbow injury in the NFC Championship Game at the end of the 2022 season ensured the 49ers are always likely to keep three quarterbacks on the roster. In Dobbs, the Niners know they have a backup who can win games at short notice and who has experience in similar systems. 

Running back (4)

IN: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo*, 
OUT: Patrick Taylor, Jordan Mason, Cody Schrader**

The skinny: Mason and, to a lesser extent, Mitchell, should be sweating bullets after the 49ers traded up in the fourth round for the best athlete in the 2024 draft class at the running back spot in Guerendo and then signed Schrader out of Missouri. Schrader had 1,627 rushing yards in the SEC in his final season. Pass protection issues kept Mason off the field for much of last season while McCaffrey's chief backup Mitchell has consistently dealt with durability issues. They could both be on borrowed time, with Mitchell a free agent next offseason.

Wide receiver (6)

IN: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall*, Jacob Cowing*, Ronnie Bell
OUT: Danny Gray, Chris Conley, Tay Martin, Trent Taylor, Terique Owens**

The skinny: Pearsall and Cowing's arrivals might not have spelt the end for Aiyuk or Samuel, but they certainly do for Danny Gray, the former third-round pick who has just one catch in two years in the league. Owens' feel-good story with the Niners is likely to end after preseason, though he Conley, Martin and Taylor are all good practice squad candidates. Conley and Taylor will be the favorites in that regard because of their special teams upside.

Tight end (3)

IN: George Kittle, Eric Saubert, Brayden Willis
OUT: Cameron Latu, Jake Tonges, Mason Pline**

The skinny: The 49ers did not a tight end in the draft, meaning they will likely have to put their faith in the 2023 draft class to prove themselves worthy of relieving some of the burden on Kittle. Based on Kyle Shanahan's recent comments, he does not have much faith in Latu, who missed last season with a knee injury. Perhaps the practice squad beckons.

Offensive line (9)

IN: Trent Williams (LT), Aaron Banks (LG), Jake Brendel (C), Jon Feliciano (RG), Colton McKivitz (RT), Jaylon Moore, Ben Bartch, Dominick Puni*, Jarrett Kingston*
OUT: Sebastian Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon, Corey Luciano, Nick Zakelj, Brandon Parker, Spencer Burford, Drake Nugent**, Briason Mays**

The skinny: Burford's release would be the big surprise here. He has significant starting experience at right guard and does have a lot of good tape across two seasons. Yet the 49ers have never seemed truly convinced by him and the selections of the versatile Puni and Kingston were hardly a vote of confidence after his costly protection breakdown in the Super Bowl. 

Defensive line (10)

IN: Nick Bosa (DE), Javon Hargrave, (DT), Maliek Collins (DT), Leonard Floyd (DE), Yetur Gross-Matos, Kevin Givens, Jordan Elliott, Drake Jackson, Kalia Davis, Robert Beal Jr.
OUT: T.Y. McGill, Austin Bryant, Alex Barrett, Spencer Waege, Earnest Brown IV, Sam Okuayinonu, Raymond Johnson III, Evan Anderson**

The skinny: There's no real surprises on the defensive front. With the 49ers not adding to their D-Line in the draft, the 10 they will likely carry up front almost pick themselves. McGill, Bryant and Barrett are all practice squad candidates, along with Anderson, who received huge guaranteed money as an undrafted free agent nose tackle.

Linebacker (5)

IN: Fred Warner (MIKE), Dre Greenlaw (WILL), De'Vondre Campbell (SAM), Dee Winters, Ezekiel Turner,
OUT: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Curtis Robinson, Jalen Graham, Tatum Bethune*

The skinny: Greenlaw could well start the season on the PUP list after tearing his Achilles in a bizarre incident in Super Bowl 58. If that proves to be the case, Campbell will kick into the WILL linebacker spot with Winters the likely favorite to play SAM in that scenario That would also free up a spot for one of the quartet have failing to make the roster. All four would be practice squad candidates.

Cornerback (6)

IN: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Isaac Yiadom, Rock Ya-Sin, Darrell Luter Jr, Renardo Green*
OUT: Chase Lucas, Ambry Thomas, Samuel Womack III, Kemon Hall, Jaylen Mahoney**

The skinny: The 49ers have built excellent depth at the corner position behind starters Ward and Lenoir and have a successor for whichever of that duo leaves next offseason after taking Green in the second round. Lucas' special teams play and ability to man the nickel role should see him make the practice squad, while Womack is a candidate for that as well. It's probably the end for Thomas after his disappointing play in the postseason last term.

Safety (4)

IN: Ji'Ayir Brown, Talanoa Hufanga, Malik Mustapha*, George Odum, 
OUT: Erik Harris, Tayler Hawkins

The skinny: The 49ers might not feel great about their depth here but at least in Mustapha they gave themselves some insurance if either Brown or Hufanga goes down and a player who could start as early as 2025. Odum will be critical to the special teams. Harris and Hawkins can each afford to harbor practice squad hopes.

Specialists (3)

IN: Jake Moody (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taylor Pepper (LS)
OUT: 

The skinny: No changes from 2023. The 49ers' special teams unit overall wasn't great last year, but Moody finished a rookie season that had some lows extremely strongly in the Super Bowl and Wishnowsky had the best season of his career. More of the same, and improved play from the coverage units as the league adapts to new kickoff rules, will be required.

Final Word

There's likely to still be significant doubt about the right side of the 49ers' offensive line following a draft in which they neglected to add a likely 2024 starter at the tackle spot or guard position.

Still, this is a roster that remains the best in football. Following the draft, it now has even more pass-catching playmakers for Brock Purdy and much-needed additional depth in the secondary. The Niners didn't address what many saw as their biggest need, but the roster remains Super Bowl ready, provided that line can keep Purdy healthy.