Tag: 49ers depth chart

Brandon Aiyuk contract could be bad news for one 49ers WR

The 49ers may be able to let go of one of their WRs now that they know Brandon Aiyuk is back.

The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ended their long standoff and agreed to a four-year extension that will get the All-Pro back on the field for the first time since the Super Bowl.

Aiyuk’s new contract and his return are undeniably good news for the 49ers. He’s their leading receiver from a season ago, and he’s the most well-rounded WR in their receiving corps. His ability to get open in all three levels of the passing game fundamentally changes the ways San Francisco’s passing attack can work.

His return may not be good news for everyone, though.

San Francisco kept seven wide receivers on its initial 53-man roster: Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell.

It appeared the seventh WR was there as insurance in the event Aiyuk was either not ready or not signed by the season opener.

Given how training camp and the preseason shook out, the odd man out once Aiyuk is back at full speed and available would be Bell. He had a handful of good practices, but a couple drops and a punt return hiccup defined his preseason performance.

The 49ers may need to open a roster spot soon, and that extra WR would make a logical cut candidate. San Francisco could aim to add to its defensive line depth. They’ll have to clear a roster spot for left tackle Trent Williams, who is holding out for a new deal, if/when they reach an agreement.

Six receivers is probably plenty for the 49ers, which may leave Bell on the outside looking in once the team needs a roster spot.

One thing that could keep Bell around is Pearsall’s lingering shoulder injury. He had hamstring and shoulder issues in camp that sidelined him for most of the preseason practice sessions. The No. 31 overall pick also didn’t play in any preseason games. If the 49ers aren’t confident in where he’s at in his development, Bell could be an asset they need to keep on the roster.

This is ultimately a good problem for the 49ers to have. Aiyuk’s return was their biggest box to check when the offseason started. They’ve now checked that, and they’ll deal with any roster fallout that comes as a result.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Kyle Shanahan’s concerning answer on how 49ers would handle WR without Brandon Aiyuk

Kyle Shanahan’s glimpse at what the 49ers WR corps looks like without Brandon Aiyuk is …rough.

It looks like the San Francisco 49ers are making some progress in retaining All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The two sides are near a deal according to multiple reports, with just one key factor holding up a long-term contract for Aiyuk in San Francisco. Given how this rollercoaster has gone, it’s impossible to rule out the negotiations bleeding into Week 1 of the regular season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was on KNBR Wednesday and addressed how the team would handle the WR corps if Aiyuk doesn’t suit up for the season opener. He indicated Jauan Jennings was the most likely option to be the No. 2 receiver alongside WR Deebo Samuel. The rest of his answer underscored why the team needs to make sure Aiyuk is in uniform Week 1.

“Chris Conley’s had a hell of a camp,” Shanahan said. “He came on strong for us last year. Did a hell of a job for last year and made a number of plays going into the playoffs, in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. He’s been on a lot of teams, too, where he’s done it for awhile. Then we’ve got these rookies who are all pushing, that I know will be there eventually, but they’re a little behind the eight ball with their injuries. But they’re guys we believe in, guys who are made of the right stuff.”

He also mentioned players like Ronnie Bell and Danny Gray. Both players are battling for a job on the back end of the roster. He also mentioned other veterans the 49ers have brought in.

Let’s put this in a little different perspective. This is what the receiving corps looks like Week 1 without Aiyuk:

Deebo Samuel
Jauan Jennings
Chris Conley
Ricky Pearsall
Jacob Cowing
Ronnie Bell/Danny Gray/Robbie Chosen

Samuel is an elite playmaker and a bonafide star.

Jennings has been great as a No. 3, and he’s been able to step up as a No. 2 at times in his career.

Conley has been good with the 49ers. Relying on him to be WR3 is probably asking too much.

Pearsall won’t play at all in the preseason and missed a ton of practice time with hamstring and shoulder injuries. Cowing shined in his preseason debut, but he’s also still getting in the swing of the offense after missing a prolonged period with a hamstring injury.

That final trio is more likely to contribute on special teams than in the passing game. Gray didn’t play at all last year. Chosen and Bell combined for 10 catches in 26 games.

Shanahan is a good enough offensive coach with enough weapons to potentially cobble together enough to win any game. However, that receiving corps would make life much easier for what figures to be a terrific New York Jets defense. Just because the 49ers might be able to make it work doesn’t mean they should.

Their receiving corps, and their chances to win Week 1, look much better when it’s Aiyuk and Samuel atop the depth chart. The 49ers need to do everything they can to push the deal with Aiyuk over the finish line in time for the season opener on Monday Night Football.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers rookie CB ascending quickly thanks to newfound versatility

The 49ers finally made a sizable draft investment at CB and it looks like it could pay off right away.

The San Francisco 49ers might have something in their secondary.

After years of prioritizing the defensive line and not investing heavily in cornerback during the draft, the 49ers finally spent a second-round pick on Florida State cornerback Renardo Green in 2024. They selected him No. 64 overall — marking the earliest they’d ever taken a CB in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era.

With an opening in the starting lineup, there was hope that Green may be able to step in right away as a starter. He primarily played outside corner in college, but the team quickly moved him into the slot which is an entirely new position.

That might have pushed Green into a situation where he was left out of the starting lineup as he learned a new position, but defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen told reporters in a press conference after Wednesday’s practice that the early move inside has only benefitted the rookie CB.

“Both spots. That was kind of the plan,” Sorensen said. “I wanted to give him the harder stuff early, because he hadn’t played in there. It’s always easier, I think, to move back out to what you’re used to, then to try something really new. Then if we did it later, it would have been like, oh my gosh, blow your mind. Where when we gave him the hard stuff early, then he handled it while also playing corner. So now it’s like, let’s get you focused on playing outside and see if it clears your mind. Let you just play. Now he just kind of has to know both. Just like [DB Deommodore Lenoir] Demo does. We like to challenge our guys and see what they can handle. And when you see that they can handle it, it’s awesome. It gives you that flexibility. And he’s just a competitive kid that’s smart, that wants to do it right.”

It appears the main competition for the third CB spot is between Green and veteran CB Isaac Yiadom. The latter only plays outside and has primarily been a special teams contributor throughout his career, but looked to be on track to win the third CB job before an injury sidelined him for a few weeks in camp.

That opened the door for Green who has flashed in practice and during the 49ers’ pair of preseason games. He took full advantage of the opportunities.

Even if the club decides to go with Yiadom in the starting lineup right away, Green has done everything to point his arrow in the right direction going into his first regular season. Perhaps he contributes right away, but even if he doesn’t, he’s on track to be a factor in the secondary for the foreseeable future. That would be a really nice return on the team’s first big draft investment at CB.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Surprise contender could shake up 49ers roster at tight end

A shakeup in the 49ers TE room? Don’t sleep on it.

Going into training camp it looked like the San Francisco 49ers had a mostly set tight end group.

George Kittle would spearhead that unit with veteran Logan Thomas offering the pass-catching backup TE the 49ers have been on the hunt for. Brayden Willis figured to be a factor heading into his second season, and then camp would be for deciding whether the club would keep a fourth TE.

That all got shaken up when Thomas was let go before the preseason opener. Suddenly the plan behind Kittle had less certainty. Willis and Eric Saubert both got a ton of run in practice with the first team, and then played plenty early in the first preseason game.

They appear to be the frontrunners to snag roster spots, but veteran Jake Tonges is making a strong case for himself with good showings in camp and the preseason. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he’s not surprised that Tonges, who spent virtually all of last season on the 49ers practice squad, has shown up in an uncertain TE room.

“Not really. We got him on our practice squad last year, so we got to see a lot of him, just on scout team and stuff,” Shanahan told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “And he’s always done a real good job here and he’s taken advantage of his opportunities. He’s mixing around at a couple positions and he’s going to make this decision tough for us.”

Tonges spent some time at fullback in camp when Kyle Juszczyk wasn’t lining up during practice. He’s also hauled in all six of his targets in the preseason for 49 yards.

There’s nothing particularly flashy about how Tonges operates, but he’s a willing and capable blocker with a knack for finding space as a pass catcher. Those are all qualities San Francisco would love to have in a reserve TE.

Unfortunately for Tonges, blocking is going to be one of the primary skills the 49ers look for at that position. That’s something Saubert thrives at. If we’re penciling Willis in for a roster spot and the 49ers only keep three TEs, chances are Tonges winds up being the odd man out.

However, he’s certainly in the mix as the preseason winds down. There’s now a path to him making the club out of camp, and that’s impressive for a player who was largely an afterthought at the position when camp opened.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers WR Deebo Samuel: I think Brandon Aiyuk is going to be a part of this team

Deebo Samuel won’t even entertain question about 49ers chances without Brandon Aiyuk.

There still isn’t a resolution to the Brandon Aiyuk contract negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers.

Prolonged contract talks and trade rumors have led us to ponder what this year’s 49ers club would look like without the All-Pro wide receiver lining up across from Deebo Samuel. Given the injury situation, things look potentially grim in the world where Aiyuk isn’t suiting up in red and gold this season.

While that speculation is happening, Samuel told Kay Adams he isn’t worried about what the team would look like without Aiyuk.

Adams, who hosts the show ‘Up and Adams’ on FanDuel TV interviewed Samuel at the team’s facility on Friday and asked him if they could win the Super Bowl without Aiyuk.

“I think BA’s gonna be a part of this team,” Samuel said. “So we don’t have to worry about that.”

For 49ers fans looking for crumbs of optimism about Aiyuk staying with the 49ers, this is the third thing to come out Friday that indicates the trade possibility is further away than ever.

Samuel’s optimism is likely founded in discussions about the situation with Aiyuk, who was out at practice all week. Aiyuk also ran sprints during Friday’s practice after general manager John Lynch went on KNBR radio in the Bay Area and talked about the urgency the team is feeling to get him signed.

Of course, Samuel isn’t involved in the negotiations. However, it’s notable that he didn’t dance around the question or give a non-answer. He was as straightforward as possible that he thought Aiyuk would be with the 49ers this season.

If he is, they have a real chance to overcome the dreaded Super Bowl hangover to make a rare Super Bowl run a year after losing it. If he isn’t, their chances dwindle significantly. The latter is scary, but apparently irrelevant.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Has undrafted RB done enough to shake up 49ers RB depth chart?

It might finally be Jordan Mason SZN (season).

The San Francisco 49ers running back depth could look a little different this season.

Typically whoever is listed behind Christian McCaffrey on the depth chart wouldn’t matter much. McCaffrey has played virtually every meaningful snap for the 49ers since he arrived in the middle of the 2022 season. The backup RB was used sparingly to either chew clock with tough runs between the tackles, or in the event McCaffrey was unavailable.

Over the last couple of years the RB2 job has belonged to 2021 sixth-round pick Elijah Mitchell. It’s been hard to argue with the choice given how good Mitchell has been when he’s on the field. The problem is his availability has been scattershot in each of his first three NFL seasons. His healthy questions have opened the door for 2022 undrafted RB Jordan Mason to sneak into that backup role.

Mason’s ascension felt inevitable. He’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry on 83 attempts as a pro, and his downhill running style fits the 49ers’ scheme well. Mason has filled in when Mitchell has been out, but the last couple years it’s been Mitchell back in the RB2 role once he’s healthy.

Whether it’s a skill set issue or some other problem only apparent to 49ers offensive coaches, Mason just hasn’t been able to overtake Mitchell.

That appears to be changing in 2024 with Mitchell sidelined again by a hamstring injury during training camp. Mason got the first series of the 49ers preseason opener and turned in six carries for 34 yards and a touchdown behind an offensive line that featured only three of the 49ers’ presumed starters and no Trent Williams.

Tacking that on with his improved pass catching and it becomes harder to envision a world where it’s Mason, not Mitchell, backing up McCaffrey in 2024.

It may be more important than ever, too. While McCaffrey still figures to play a lion’s share of the snaps, the 49ers could aim to lighten the 28-year-old’s workload as he enters his eighth NFL season. Those end-of-game snaps that used to be available in blowouts may become more frequent in close games. They may also come more frequently through the early parts of games to keep the aging RB fresh.

If Mason continues running the way he has his entire career while getting extra reps with Mitchell out, he could very well be the player the 49ers call in to relieve McCaffrey this season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Where 49ers backup QB battle stands after preseason action begins

Here’s where things stand with the #49ers backup QB battle after Week 1 of the preseason.

To hear the San Francisco 49ers television broadcast tell it, there’s nothing more important on offense right now for the 49ers than the backup quarterback battle.

It could be argued that left tackle Trent Williams’ holdout and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s hold-in are bigger deals, but there’s nothing new on either front coming out of San Francisco’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans.

There is something new on the backup QB battle. The job appears to be Brandon Allen’s to lose.

Allen started Saturday’s game and completed 7-of-13 throws for 98 yards. Two of his best throws of the night were deep shots to wide receivers Tay Martin and Ronnie Bell, but neither receiver came down with the ball.

His advantage in knowing the offense shined as he worked the pocket and stepped into a couple of good second-level throws in the middle of the field to WRs Chris Conley and Frank Darby. It was a strong showing from the 31-year-old.

Dobbs entered in the second half and didn’t perform poorly, but it was also clear that he’s new in the offense. There were points where he was indecisive, and his accuracy was a little scattered.

All that said, it’s tough to truly evaluate Dobbs because the offensive line didn’t do a great job of giving him time to get comfortable. He never looked like he got in a rhythm which makes it tough for a QB to be consistent.

Dobbs showed off a strong arm when he did get time to set his feet and throw. He also made a good throw on the run on a designed rollout, and flashed his scrambling ability when he scored a six-yard rushing touchdown.

Both Allen and Dobbs could still win the backup job with a little less than three weeks until final cuts. They’ll have a handful of practices and two more preseason games to continue jockeying for position.

Exiting Saturday’s game, however, Allen is the clear frontrunner. Dobbs’ ceiling is probably higher which gives him a chance to eventually overtake Allen. Stability would be the priority for the 49ers if QB Brock Purdy was unavailable for any significant period though, and Allen is the one providing that as of the preseason opener.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers roster: TE suddenly a question mark after release of proven veteran

Now what do the 49ers do with the depth chart behind George Kittle?

The San Francisco 49ers have been on a years-long journey to find a quality backup tight end behind George Kittle.

They’ve had good blocking options, but they’ve tended to lack in the pass-catching department. It looked this offseason like that would change when the 49ers signed veteran Logan Thomas.

Last season Thomas posted 55 catches for 496 yards and four touchdowns for the Washington Commanders. Those numbers aren’t far off the combined career totals of the 49ers backup TEs last year combined.

Thomas could have been the reliable pass catcher San Francisco has been searching for. Then he got hurt early in training camp, and the 49ers released him Friday before their preseason opener against the Titans.

His release leaves a pretty big question mark on the depth chart behind Kittle.

Veteran Eric Saubert has been a frequent contributor in camp. He’s a six-year veteran with 36 career receptions for 292 yards. If there’s a frontrunner for the TE2 job, he’s probably it.

Second-year TE Brayden Willis is an interesting athlete, but his ability to produce in the NFL is still a huge question mark after he spent most of his rookie season contributing on special teams.

Jake Tonges has played in just four NFL games since joining the league in 2022 as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears. He spent time on the 49ers practice squad last season and offers some versatility at fullback. He’s still an unknown as an NFL player, though.

Cameron Latu, another second-year TE, is still aiming to find his footing as a pro. Mason Pline is an undrafted rookie who’s in the same boat.

Maybe some combination of Saubert and Willis will provide more playmaking than previous backup TEs, but Thomas’ release tells us the 49ers will still prioritize blocking above all else at that position. Their search for another pass-catching TE will likely move into next offseason.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

Injury on 49ers D-line opens door for fast-rising 2nd-year DE to carve out bigger role

The 49ers would love to see a Robert Beal Jr. breakout season in 2024 in the wake of Drake Jackson being placed on season-ending IR.

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a tough blow to their defensive line Thursday when defensive end Drake Jackson went on season-ending IR.

Jackson underwent offseason knee surgery and figured to be a key piece of the 49ers defensive line rotation in his third season. Instead, because he went on IR before final cuts, his 2024 campaign is over before it started.

Missing Jackson hurts the 49ers’ depth at a key position, but it opens the door for second-year DE Robert Beal Jr. to take on a bigger role.

Beal put together a good Thursday practice. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, he posted at least two and maybe three sacks during the session.

Having Beal find his footing in the NFL this year would be a massive win for the 49ers defensive line.

San Francisco selected Beal in the sixth round of last year’s draft. An injury kept him out until the final four games of the year where he played 39 defensive snaps and registered five tackles and a sack.

Beal’s an intriguing player because he has every desirable measurable. He’s 6-foot-4, 247 pounds with nearly 35-inch arms. He also posted a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash with a 123-inch broad jump.

While his college numbers don’t jump off the page, his athletic testing numbers combined with his size and length give him an enormously high ceiling in the NFL.

Last season he never got a real chance to make an impact. By the time he was finally healthy enough to play, the 49ers had traded for DEs Randy Gregory and Chase Young.

The 2024 campaign is different and the door for Beal to step into a larger role is wide open.

Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd will start. Yetur Gross-Matos will be heavily featured in the DE rotation. Beyond that the 49ers’ DE depth chart is littered with question marks.

This offseason has given Beal a real chance to integrate himself into the defensive line rotation, and the fruits of his labor are starting to show in training camp.

It’s unlikely he’ll ever be a star at the position, but the 49ers don’t need a star. They need a reliable fourth edge rusher who can provide the depth that has made San Francisco’s defensive line so dangerous in the past. Beal will have a huge opportunity to fit into a role where his athletic gifts can shine and he can solve a significant problem on the 49ers defensive line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former 49ers 3rd-round pick has nightmare 3-play stretch in practice

A practice to forget for this 49ers 2nd-year TE:

The 2023 season went about as poorly as it could have possibly gone for rookie tight end Cameron Latu.

Latu, a third-round pick, had a rough first training camp that included dropped passes and an overall inability to make any progress climbing the depth chart. Then he got hurt and knee surgery ended his season before final cuts were made.

With an overhauled tight end room, Latu in his second season has a chance to take on a role with real playing time. Unfortunately for the former third-round pick his second camp hasn’t gotten off to a great start either.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter detailed a disastrous stretch of plays for Latu to close out Friday’s practice:

In a three play stretch during move the ball with QB Josh Dobbs, Latu made a catch for a decent gain on one play. On the next, he appeared to have trouble knowing where to lineup and/or motion which led to a false start on Zakelj and then it snowballed into Latu making another catch but fumbling on a hit from LB Tatum Bethune that became a scoop and score for CB Chase Lucas on the final play of practice.

Ouch!

Ball security was an issue for Latu last season. Seeing that carry over isn’t a great sign.

His lack of knowledge of the offense is a direct result of how his rookie season went. All practice reps are extremely valuable for first-year players and after training camp he was sidelined for the rest of the year. Latu never had a chance to take strides after some early setbacks, and he’s paying the price now trying to dig himself out of an already sizable hole.

There’s still time for Latu to make a good impression. The 49ers’ tight end depth isn’t so stellar that he can’t make headway in the hunt for a roster spot. For now he’s on the outside looking in, and practices like Friday won’t help his case.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]