The 49ers’ roster continuity between 2019 and 2020 leaves relatively little room for their 15-player rookie class to make a significant impact this season. They drafted only five players and signed 10 undrafted free agents.
There were jobs aplenty for UDFAs while the club was rebuilding through 2017 and 2018, but as the roster has filled with talent, the opportunities for first-year players has dried up some.
Still, San Francisco’s track record with first-year players, both drafted and undrafted, leaves room for some optimism that the club will have a handful of difference makers in their 2020 rookie class.
Here’s the number each rookie will wear according to the 90-man roster on the team’s website:
5- QB Broc Rutter
7- WR Chris Finke
11- WR Brandon Aiyuk
35- RB Salvon Ahmed
38- RB Jamycal Hasty
43- S Jared Mayden
47- LB Jonas Griffith
49- CB DeMarkus Acy
49- RB Josh Hokit
65- DL Darrion Daniels
68- OL Colton McKivitz
81- WR Jauan Jennings
83- TE Chase Harrell
89- TE Charlie Woerner
99- DT Javon Kinlaw
One oddity that comes with 90-player rosters and limited numbers available at each position is that a player on each side of the ball might share a number. That’s the reason undrafted cornerback DeMarkus Acy and undrafted fullback Josh Hokit are both assigned No. 49.
There’s a chance those numbers change at some point — specifically for the UDFAs. First-round picks like Kinlaw and Aiyuk will likely stay in their No. 99 and No. 11 jerseys. A UDFA who makes the club will have an opportunity to snag a discarded number once the 90-man roster thins out.
The only player on the club without a jersey number listed is left tackle Trent Williams. However, he wore No. 71 during his 10 years in Washington, and he posted a photoshop of himself in a No. 71 49ers jersey. Barring a dramatic change of heart by the time the season kicks off, it’s likely Williams will roll into 2020 with his usual 71 on his back.
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