It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the unofficial preseason depth chart release.
The 49ers’ starting lineup is as settled as it has ever been. Brock Purdy’s healthy status has made him the clear starting quarterback, and outside of that, there aren’t many other questions in the first team.
Nick Bosa’s continued absence has given an opportunity to the participants in the only true starting position battle, the defensive end spot opposite him. Both Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson are listed as starters, but one will lose out.
If we’re assessing how the competition has gone so far, Ferrell probably has the edge. He’s looked a bit more consistent as a pass rusher and forceful in the run game. While Jackson has flashed athleticism, he leans on speed rushes to the outside that have become a bit predictable, but could work better against a team that doesn’t see him every day. Regardless, that spot is very much up for grabs.
The only “-or-” designations the 49ers handed out were to the backup quarterback spot, between Trey Lance and Sam Darnold, and the kicking spot, between Jake Moody and Zane Gonzalez.
Let’s be clear. The 49ers’ kicker is Moody, but it makes sense to at least present an illusion that there’s a theoretical competition there with Gonzalez.
The No. 2 QB job is still up in the air, and will likely be decided by these preseason games. The edge should probably go to Darnold, who just looks more reliable on shorter throws and throwing on the move. He’s also got game experience that might make the 49ers a little more at ease, whereas Lance has some inconsistencies you’d expect from a player who’s started just four career games.
Outside of those spots, linebacker is probably the most intriguing position to watch. Oren Burks is pretty close to a lock, given his experience, special teams prowess and performance, but Marcelino McCrary-Ball is making a fairly convincing case to be Azeez Al-Shaair’s replacement as the “starting” weak side linebacker in 4-3 downs. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has been well liked by the team in the past and has made a couple eye-catching plays, too.
Those three names currently seem likeliest to make the roster as the third-through-fifth linebackers, but that’s not set in stone. If that is indeed the group, though, it’s possible a sixth linebacker makes the roster, and the likes of Curtis Robinson, Jalen Graham, Dee Winters and Kyahva Tezino have all flashed talent in camp. It’s hard to pick one name out of that group.
If a sixth linebacker is to make it, that would probably require slimmer numbers elsewhere. It could mean one fewer safety or corner, and with the way undrafted rookie D’Shawn Jamison has played, maybe that’s not how the 49ers play things.
That same question is presented in the wide receiver room. A top five of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud and Danny Gray is present. But there are some intriguing names in contention for a sixth spot, between the likes of Ronnie Bell, Willie Snead IV and Chris Conley. Tay Martin and Isaiah Winstead have flashed, too, along with a couple moments from Dazz Newsome, but those three feel like practice squad targets.
Bell and Snead IV have looked the most consistent, but given the fact the 49ers have been able to keep Snead IV on the practice squad for various stretches, they might favor the rookie in a cutdown situation.
One of the other items to watch is the offensive line, where seven spots seem settled, between the starters, and backup tackle Matt Pryor and backup interior lineman Jon Feliciano. Nick Zakelj seems like the next name on the list, but an eighth lineman spot is fully up for grabs at this stage.
Tight end is the last position of major note, where, outside of Charlie Woerner as the likely No. 2, everything is muddy.
If you were to bet, keeping both rookies on the roster behind Woerner seems the smartest route, given that Ross Dwelley doesn’t offer anything in the way of blocking, and Brayden Willis is far more athletic than him, and has flashed solid receiving chops. They invested a lot in Cameron Latu, who has not impressed so far. But you might as well hold onto that belief long term and bet on him developing during the season, or maybe figure it out more in the preseason.
These next two practices in Las Vegas and ensuing preseason games will settle a lot of things, mostly at the back end of the roster.