49ers Final 53-Man Roster Breakdown: Updated analysis of roster cuts, practice squad, waiver claims

Yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers made their final roster cuts and unveiled their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season. However, similar to Brandon Aiyuk's contract negotiations, each team's Week 1 roster "situation remains fluid." Today, injured reserve lists and practice squads across the NFL are being filled, and newly available players are being signed – and resigned, after an abbreviated one-day absence from team facilities.

The 49ers' initial roster raised some eyebrows among numerous analysts and members of the Niners' fanbase. A day later, several internal questions have been answered. Unfortunately, some potential talents were lost to willing teams, and one of the Niners' position groups remains a head-scratcher.

Now that we have gained some much-needed clarity, let's analyze the San Francisco 49ers' current 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season:

Quarterbacks (3)

No surprises here, as both Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen performed at a high level throughout the preseason. Despite recent claims that the competition remains "neck and neck," Dobbs is the most likely candidate to back up 49ers starting QB Brock Purdy to start the season.

Running Backs (5)

Jordan Mason was the clear winner of the competition for RB2 behind NFL Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) Christian McCaffrey. Elijah Mitchell was then promptly placed on Injured Reserve, thus ending his season.

Taylor was a bit of a surprise pick over the rest of the team's potential running backs, including Cody Schrader, who was quickly claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams. However, Taylor's proficiency as both a receiver and blocker in the passing game likely gave the 4th-year RB a leg up on his competition.

Isaac Guerendo was a roster lock from the start, and should see the ball on offense and as a kick returner, provided the rookie can remain healthy.

Wide Receivers (7)

Deebo Samuel Sr.
Brandon Aiyuk
Jauan Jennings
Chris Conley
Ricky Pearsall
Jacob Cowing
Ronnie Bell

The Danny Gray experiment is over, as Ronnie Bell secured the final seat in the 49ers' receiver room. Neither wideout played particularly well, but Bell got the nod over Gray and veterans like Trent Taylor, who led the team in receiving over the preseason, as well as Robbie Chosen, who did not. Taylor remains a candidate for the practice squad, in case a replacement for rookie WR and punt returner Jacob Cowing is warranted.

In other news, Brandon Aiyuk remains under a one-year, fully guaranteed contract to play wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. In addition, the Niners drafted a second rookie wide receiver in first-rounder Ricky Pearsall, who is also expected to play football for the team this season.

Tight Ends (2)

George Kittle
Jake Tonges

What? How can Shanahan be expected to run an offense with only two tight ends? Last year's TE draft duo Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis are gone – for now – as is Logan Thomas, who was released for the second time this month.

However, reinforcements are on the way, in the form of recently released TE Eric Saubert, who can return to the team once the 49ers place an injured player – like interior offensive lineman Jon Feliciano – on Injured Reserve later today. Tonges is the preferred receiving option behind George Kittle, while Saubert is expected to play the "Charlie Woerner" role of in-line run-blocker who also runs a lot of routes but never sees any targets.

Offensive Line (8)

The good: The San Francisco 49ers have the best backup offensive line in the NFL.
The bad: They aren't backups.
The good: If your offensive line is comprised of replacement-level talent, losing a starter to injury is far less of a problem. Often, it can even result in a net positive for the team.
The bad: The 49ers' front office expects the addition of a 36-year-old tackle to transform this group into a Super Bowl-caliber OL.

The 49ers have the worst offensive line in the league, and that still may be the case when long-term holdout Trent Williams returns. Yesterday, the 49ers cut or released every offensive tackle on their roster, aside from the two tackles required for Week 1. The front office even waived promising rookie Jarret Kingston after a stellar preseason. Perhaps the team hoped to re-sign him to the practice squad, expecting the rookie to pass through waivers unnoticed.

Kingston didn't even make it past the first team on the waiver wire.

Ending on a positive note, at least we know there will be some movement within this group before Week 1. The 49ers can't start the season with two offensive tackles on their roster. The team is going to need to do something, and that "something" is bound to be an improvement over what they haven't done so far.

Defensive Line (9)

Along with Bosa, Hargrave, and Givens, the 49ers' four defensive lineman additions - Floyd, Collins, Elliott, and Gross-Matos - were roster locks from Day 1. Beal wasn't fantastic during the preseason, but the sophomore will also return to the team.

Okuayinonu is the biggest surprise player on the list, although the former Maryland project was the "next man up" when Floyd left last week's game with a knee injury. Objectively, Alex Barrett had a better camp, but after nearly five years with the team, the Niners likely know what they have in their perennial practice squad player.

With Drake Jackson injured, and Kalia Davis on Injured Reserve, Designated to Return, it's unclear what Okuayinonu's long-term future holds in San Francisco. Don't go out and buy his jersey just yet, since he may be the first defender the team is prepared to part with once a roster spot is needed.

Linebackers (6)

Fred Warner
De'Vondre Campbell Sr.
Curtis Robinson
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Dee Winters
Tatum Bethune

Fred Warner remains the "quarterback" of the 49ers defense and will begin the season alongside free agent acquisition De'Vondre Campbell as the team waits for Dre Greenlaw to recover from his freakish Super Bowl injury. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is currently listed as the team's third "SAM" linebacker in their traditional "base" defense, but DFF is probably better suited for a specialized role on special teams.

The remaining linebackers flashed during the preseason, but none of the three have extensive experience at the professional level – which was evident at times over the past few weeks. Neither Curtis Robinson, Dee Winters, nor Tatum Bethune has started an NFL game. Second-year linebacker Jalen Graham was the odd man out of the group, but only for a few hours, as the Washington Commanders signed him to their practice squad early today.

Cornerbacks and Defensive Back (6)

Charvarius Ward
Isaac Yiadom
Renardo Green
Darrell Luter Jr.
Ambry Thomas (IR)
Deommodore Lenoir

Expect Charvarius Ward to start across from "defensive back" Deommodore Lenior against balanced two-wide receiver sets. DeMo will likely move inside on both passing downs and against 11 personnel, with Yiadom likely replacing the 49ers' DB as the team's second perimeter corner. And perhaps DeMo should be considered a "defensive back," as he's classified on the 49ers' official website, since he's proven to be extremely effective in a hybrid cornerback-nickel back-safety role.

Renardo Green and Darrell Luter Jr. will also see increased playing time as the season progresses, but Ambry Thomas likely will not. Multiple cornerbacks outplayed Thomas this preseason, before he broke his forearm. Expect the CB's time on the 49ers' roster – en route to Injured Reserve status – to be brief.

After the 49ers waived him yesterday, Samuel Womack III was snatched up by the Indianapolis Colts via the waiver process today. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, who was released rather than waived, is a prime candidate to replace Thomas as the team's final cornerback.

Safeties (4)

Talanoa Hufanga
Ji'Ayir Brown
George Odum
Malik Mustapha

As soon as the news broke yesterday that Talanoa Hufanga was activated from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List, the Niners' safety group was locked in. Hufanga may not be able to start Week 1 while he continues recovery from an ACL injury sustained last season, but he is on track to contribute within the first few weeks of the 2024 season.

If Hufanga can't suit up at first, George Odum would likely take his place in the starting lineup, with veteran safety Tracey Walker II called up from the 49ers' practice squad as the team's fourth safety.

Specialists (3)

Mitch Wishnowsky
Jake Moody
Taybor Pepper

Although backup punter Pressley Harvin III performed admirably during the preseason, the 49ers' special teams trio from last season is prepared to run it back in 2024. The biggest question mark surrounding this group – aside from Moody's ability to kick the ball between those pesky uprights when the game's on the line – is whether the 49ers will recognize that an accurate "kicker" who hits as hard as he kicks is a cheat code for the NFL's new hybrid-football kickoff.

But first thing's first: Offensive line.

Roster Updates

The 49ers and the NFL announced the following players have been signed to the 49ers' current practice squad:

Practice Squad

OL Isaac Alarcon
DL Evan Anderson
DL Alex Barrett
DL Jonathan Garvin
OL Sebastian Gutierrez
CB Chase Lucas
S Jaylen Mahoney
WR Tay Martin
DL T.Y. McGill
QB Tanner Mordecai
OL Drake Nugent
TE Mason Pline
WR Trent Taylor
S Tracy Walker
TE Brayden Willis

• Chris Wilson
• Written by:
  Chris Wilson
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