Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus on Thursday identified 10 players who need to have a strong training camp and preseason to secure bigger roles — or maybe any role — on their respective rosters. Of course, this is all assuming there is some form of training camp and preseason. The players union and the NFL seemingly remain at an impasse on testing protocols and what is expected of them as the country remains entrenched in a pandemic.
The San Francisco 49ers' fourth-year defensive lineman, Solomon Thomas, who was general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan's first-ever draft pick together, made Monson's list. The analyst notes that one key offseason departure could be the window Thomas needs to finally prove his worth.
"Solomon Thomas has been miscast for the majority of his NFL career," writes Monson, "and it's led to him having been a pretty significant disappointment thus far. However, DeForest Buckner's departure opens the window a little for him to earn some snaps inside on the defensive line, where he was always at his best in college."
Monson adds that failure to take advantage of the opportunity will result in rookie first-round pick Javon Kinlaw claiming Thomas' snaps.
"If he is able to stand up and show he can thrive in an interior role, he could steal snaps from Kinlaw in his rookie season," adds Monson.
Thomas racked up just 21 tackles in 2019, a number that has consistently dropped by 10 from season to season. He has only six total sacks and 23 combined quarterback hits throughout his NFL career, according to Pro Football Reference.
"Thomas has just 73 total pressures across his three-year NFL career," writes Monson, "and his number of pressures has declined every season. His pressure and win rates are better when he is at an interior alignment, but he has been lined up on the edge more in his career than he has inside."