SANTA CLARA – That’s a wrap on the 49ers’ minicamp and offseason program, one that lacked drama for a welcome change and instead introduced a barrage of new teammates.
They’re six weeks shy of training camp and three months from opening the season in Seattle. A lot can change but here is a stab at how the initial 53-man roster might look:
QUARTERBACK (3)
Starter: Brock Purdy
Backups: Mac Jones, Tanner Mordecai
Non-football injury list: Kurtis Rourke (knee)
Biggest dilemma: If Jones tanks in camp, is Mordecai capable of leapfrogging him for the QB2 role and must that coincide with Rourke’s ACL being ready as QB3?
RUNNING BACK (4)
Starters: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
Backups: Isaac Guerendo, Jordan James
Still in mix: Patrick Taylor Jr., Israel Abanikanda, Corey Kiner
Biggest dilemmas: Will all make it to Week 1 healthy, especially McCaffrey? Could Kiner shine in the preseason and get claimed before the 49ers can stash him on the practice squad?
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
Starters: Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall
Backups: Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins
Physically unable to perform list: Brandon Aiyuk (knee)
Still in mix: Junior Bergen, Terique Owens, Isaiah Neyor, Russell Gage, Isaiah Hodgins, Malik Knowles
Injured reserve: Trent Taylor (back)
Biggest dilemmas: Robinson is expected to draw a three-game suspension for his November drunken-driving arrest while on the Rams, so the 49ers need to know when the NFL will issue that discipline and thus create the need for a fifth receiver on the opening roster. As much as they like Owens (son of Hall of Famer Terrell Owens), Neyor might be tougher to get through waivers and onto the practice squad. Also, a veteran addition may be needed if Aiyuk and Robinson are unavailable, so will it be Hodgins, Gage, Knowles or a player to be signed later?
TIGHT END (3)
Starter: George Kittle
Backups: Luke Farrell, Ross Dwelley
Still in mix: Jake Tonges, Brayden Willis, Mason Pline
Biggest dilemmas: Are three enough while another one or two are stashed on the practice squad? Can Pline make a big enough jump in camp to warrant his 53-man debut?
OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
Starters: LT Trent Williams, LG Ben Bartch, C Jake Brendel, RG Dominick Puni, RT Colton McKivitz
Backups: Matt Hennessy, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford, Connor Colby, Andre Dillard
Still in mix: Austen Pleasants, Zack Johnson, Drew Moss, Drake Nugent, Sebastian Gutierrez
Suspended: Isaac Alarcon (four games, PED)
Biggest dilemmas: The starting five seems set, unless Hennessy unseats Brendel and/or Bartch loses out to Zakelj or Hennessy. Dillard’s first practices will come at training camp, so will he prove an upgrade over Pleasants? Interior reserves could be ripe for a surprise.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
Starters: DE Nick Bosa, DE Mykel Williams, DT Jordan Elliott, DT Alfred Collins
Backups: DE Bryce Huff, DT C.J. West, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DT Evan Anderson, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Kevin Givens
Still in mix: DE Robert Beal Jr., DT Kalia Davis, DE Jonathan Garvin, DT Tarron Jackson, DT Sebastian Valdez
Biggest dilemma: Givens’ experience trumps Davis’ and Anderson’s, but could the young defensive front go younger?
LINEBACKER (6)
Starters: Fred Warner, Dee Winters, Nick Martin
Backups: Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, Nick Surratt
In the mix: Jalen Graham, Stone Blanton
PUP list: Curtis Robinson (knee)
Biggest dilemma: Why not convert Graham (6-3, 220 pounds) back into a safety, where he played at Purdue?
CORNERBACK (5)
Starters: Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green
Backups: Upton Stout, Tre Brown, Chase Lucas
In the mix: Dallis Flowers, Tre Avery, Darrell Luter Jr., Derrick Canteen, Siran Neal
Injured reserve: Tre Tomlinson
Biggest dilemma: Who will emerge as the No. 5 cornerback, because all legitimately could make a case to join Stout and Brown as backups?
SAFETIES (4)
Starters: Ji’Ayir Brown, Jason Pinnock
Backups: George Odum, Marques Sigle
In the mix: Richie Grant, Jaylen Mahoney
PUP: Malik Mustapha (knee)
Biggest dilemma: Might they still add another veteran safety after practicing this offseason without Mustapha, Brown, Odum and Sigle?
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Kicker: Greg Joseph
Punter: Thomas Morstead
Long snapper: Jon Weeks
In the mix: K Jake Moody
Biggest dilemma: Does Joseph have enough runway to unseat Moody, who’s changed to a two-step approach on kicks after his sophomore struggles?
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