The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up their preseason with a tie with the Las Vegas Raiders Friday night.
San Francisco finishes the preseason 1-1-1, and it now begins preparations for its regular-season opener against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
But the first order of business for the 49ers is to finalize their 53-man roster. Following Friday night’s preseason tie, here is an updated projection of the 49ers depth chart and roster for Week 1 against the New York Jets.
San Francisco 49ers 53-Man Roster, Depth Chart Projection
Quarterback (3)
Starter: Brock Purdy
Backups: Brandon Allen, Joshua Dobbs
Remember when Brock Purdy was the third-string quarterback for the 49ers? That was just two years ago. Now, he’s entering his third season and is coming off a year where he led the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII.
Purdy is undoubtedly the 49ers’ QB1. Behind him, there are experienced veterans in Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs.
Allen enters his second season with the 49ers after spending three seasons backing up Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Dobbs is with his fifth team going into his seventh season and owns a 3-11 record in 14 career starts.
Running Back (4)
Starter: Christian McCaffrey
Backups: Jordan Mason, Elijah Mitchell, Patrick Taylor Jr.
Like Purdy, Christian McCaffrey’s status as a starter is not in question. After all, he’s the best running back in the NFL and the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year.
But the 49ers have great depth behind McCaffrey, including veterans Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell.
Mason is coming off a 2023 season where he had three rushing touchdowns. And before McCaffrey arrived in 2022, Mitchell was the 49ers’ leading rusher in 2021 with nearly 1,000 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Fullback (1)
Starter: Kyle Juszczyk
Kyle Juszczyk has been with the 49ers since head coach Kyle Shanahan’s first season in 2017. The 49ers are one of a few teams in the NFL that utilizes a fullback, and Juszczyk is an ideal fit for the 49ers’ bruising physical style of play.
Wide Receiver (7)
Starters: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr.
Backups: Chris Conley, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Ronnie Bell, Trent Taylor
Even as Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers continue negotiations for a contract extension, he will be a WR1 when he takes the field whenever he plays his first game in 2024. Beyond Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel Sr., the 49ers have intriguing playmakers that add abundant depth to their wide receiver room.
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Jauan Jennings is coming off an impressive performance in Super Bowl LVIII, where he threw and caught a touchdown. Chris Conley and Trent Taylor are both veterans who have been on many winning teams in their respective careers. Ronnie Bell is coming off a rookie season in which three of his six catches were for touchdowns.
Offensive Line (9)
Starters: Trent Willams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz
Backups: Jaylon Moore, Nick Zakelj, Ben Bartch, Jon Feliciano
Despite skipping training camp, Trent Williams is unquestionably this team’s starting left tackle when he returns. Shanahan said earlier this week he’s hopeful that Williams and the 49ers are getting close to an extension.
Keep an eye on Aaron Banks and Nick Zakelj. Banks is dealing with a broken pinky sustained during the preseason and may not be able to start in Week 1.
Defensive Tackle (5)
Starters: Maliek Collins, Javon Hargrave
Backups: Kevin Givens, Jordan Elliott, Kalia Davis
Maliek Collins comes to the 49ers to help fill the void left by Arik Armstead, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. He’ll pair with Javon Hargrave to form a powerful interior.
EDGE (4)
Starters: Leonard Floyd, Nick Bosa
Backups: Yetur Gross-Matos, Robert Beal Jr.
Leonard Floyd, entering his ninth season, is another free agent signing the 49ers made this offseason, and he’ll pair with All-Pro edge rusher Nick Bosa to keep the 49ers’ defensive line one of the best in the NFL.
Yetur Gross-Matos spent the first four seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers, and he will provide much-needed depth behind Floyd and Bosa.
Linebacker (7)
Starters: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Fred Warner, DeVondre Campbell Sr.
Backups: Dre Greenlaw, Jalen Graham, Curtis Dee Winters, Tatum Bethune
When he returns from an Achilles injury he suffered running onto the field in Super Bowl LVIII after a punt, Greenlaw will reinforce what’s already a stellar linebacking unit for the 49ers.
Fred Warner is arguably the best linebacker in the NFL, and DeVondre Campbell Sr. brings 110 starts worth of experience to the Bay Area.
Secondary (9)
Starters: Charvarious Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Ji’Ayir Brown, Talanoa Hufanga
Backups: George Odom, Ambry Thomas, Rock Ya-Sin, Issac Yiadom, Renardo Green
The 49ers’ secondary is one of the best in the NFL, with shutdown corners and playmaking safeties.
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Talanoa Hufanga is an All-Pro, and he will regain his starting spot when he returns from the Physically Unable to Perform List he’s on following a season-ending injury in 2023.
There’s great depth behind Hufanga and Charvarious Ward with Ambry Thomas, Rock Ya-Sin, and Renardo Green.
With the 49ers’ high level of physicality, depth is a necessity at every level of the defense, including their secondary.
Special Teams (3)
Kicker: Jake Moody
Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky
Long Snapper: Taylor Pepper
Jake Moody enters his second season in the NFL, Mitch Wishnowsky enters his sixth, and Taylor Pepper enters his eighth and sixth with the 49ers. Moody converted 21 of 25 field goals and 60 of 61 extra points his rookie season.
