When the clock struck 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers began looking for options. The league’s deadline for teams to reduce their roster to 53 players had come and gone. Squads that had previously started with 90 hopefuls are now limited to 53 people for the 2021 season. As with all duty roster cuts, there were surprises. Today we’re taking a look at the three biggest surprises in recent roster cuts.

Jonas Griffith, LB

Griffith is entering his second season in the NFL. He wasn’t drafted in 2020 and was signed by the 49ers before being abandoned in August. Two months later he was signed to the Indianapolis training team before finding his way onto the San Francisco training team. The 49ers signed him a reserve contract after the season and he has enjoyed some solid performances with the team in the minicamp and preseason. However, before the final cuts for the 49ers, Griffith was traded.

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The craft of the young linebacker surprised many. Griffith was likely the underdog in San Francisco as the starters were locked up before the training camp opened and the remaining depth had an experience advantage. Griffith and a 7th round 2022 pick were shipped to Denver for a 6th round 2022 and 7th round 2023 selection. The Broncos held Griffith high enough that they didn’t want to risk waivers for the linebacker.

Wayne Galllman II, RB

After four seasons with the Giants, Gallman made his way west and signed as a free agent with the 49ers during the off-season. Gallman signed a $ 990,000 one-year deal with the team just to be the last running back for the 49ers. San Francisco added two talented rookie running backs in Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon. Mitchell was a perpetual free agent who signed a four-year contract for $ 3.66 million back in May.

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Sermon was drafted in the third round from Ohio State. With Jeff Wilson Jr. on the injured reserve list, it was believed the 49ers would keep Gallman to start the season as a veteran backup behind Raheem Mostert. However, both Sermon and Mitchell flashed a couple of times during the preseason and Gallman became dispensable. Add on Michell’s return skills and the writing was on the wall.

Nsimba Webster, WR

Webster’s signature, which appeared to be at the low end of the roster during the free agency, wasn’t received with much fanfare. However, after his first two seasons with the Rams, Webster made a reputation for being a solid streak on specialty teams, with some perks. Nsimba had experienced the time as a returnee in Los Angeles and was welcomed into a large reception room full of question marks. However, a solid training camp and preseason gigs from the likes of Trent Sherfield and Jauan Jenning, as well as Jalen Hurd’s relative health, left Webster in the bladder. It was San Francisco’s decision to stay with Hurd that ultimately sealed Webster’s fate. San Francisco opted for the bigger and stronger options on the wide receiver and Webster’s special team skills were neutered by the presence of Sherfield and Elijah Mitchell in the second leg.

– Ryan Adverderada is Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage 49ers. It also covers the Arizona Cardinals for full press coverage. Like and follow on Follow @ryanadverderada

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A look at the 53-man roster for the San Francisco 49ers for 2021. (AP Photo / Tony Avelar)

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The San Francisco 49ers announced their first 53-man roster for the 2021 NFL season. As is so often the case, there were a few surprises.

San Francisco opt to keep just two quarterbacks while pitching a whopping 11 defensive linemen.

Things are obviously going to change in the week plus leading up to the regular 49ers season opener. For now, here’s a look at San Francisco’s initial 53-man roster with predictions regarding the team’s training roster.

Quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance

The 53-man roster of the San Francisco 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo. (AP photo / Jed Jacobsohn)

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San Francisco chose to keep only two quarterbacks in its 53-man roster. This is a clear indication that the team expects Trey Lance’s finger injury to only keep him away for a week or so. However, there remains a decent chance that Nate Sudfeld will return to the training squad after his waiver on Tuesday. He can add extra insurance to the mix behind Garoppolo and Lance.

Running back: Raheem Mostert, Trey Serman, JaMycal Hasty, Elijah Mitchell

It’s a little surprising that during the final cuts, the 49ers signed the seasoned Free agent who signed Wayne Gallman. He did an excellent job last season replacing the injured Saquon Barkley with the New York Giants. With that in mind, Hasty’s preseason performance led him to almost get on the list. Mitchell, a late round pick last spring, offers more versatility in the return leg.

Defender: Kyle Juszczyk

The 49ers liked what they saw in the first two preseason games without a Juice Check from Josh Hokit. However, there is no room for a second full-back in today’s NFL. The hope here is that Hokit will make it back to San Francisco’s 16-man training team.

Tight End: George Kittle, Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. (AP Photo / Scot Tucker)

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San Francisco decided on Tuesday to release the wide receiver that became the tight end Jordan Matthews. There is a chance he will return to the training squad after doing well in this new position over the summer. The decision for three tight ends differs slightly from previous years under Kyle Shanahan. It seems to suggest the 49ers are happy with Dwelley and Woerner as backups for Kittle.

Wide receivers: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Trent Sherfield, Mohamed Sanu, Jalen Hurd, Jauan Jennings

This was one of the most interesting position groups for San Francisco during training camp and preseason. Sherfield showed great performance and played the role of the 49ers’ most prolific receiver. That guaranteed him a place in the 53-man squad.

As for Jalen Hurd, he lost more time to injury after sitting out each of his first two NFL seasons. After getting a lot of action in the preseason final in San Francisco, Hurd surprisingly earned a spot on the 53rd.

By keeping both Hurd and Jennings, the 49ers are in a less than stellar position in the second leg as well. At the moment, Aiyuk seems to be the best punt returner. Given its status as San Francisco’s No. 1 recipient, this seems unlikely. Be sure this is an area the 49ers will address before the first week against Detroit.

Offensive tackle: Trent Williams, Mike McGlinchey, Jaylon Moore

The 53-member roster of the San Francisco 49ers, Trent Williams. (Photo by Abbie Parr / Getty Images)

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Here’s another area the 49ers could address. Colton McKivitz’s surprise release for the fifth round in 2020 changes the momentum a bit. He is replaced by rookie Jaylon Moore in the swing tackle role after he made an impressive impression in the training camp and in the preseason. Moore’s lack of experience could play a role should Williams or McGlinchey miss the time to injury.

Guard: Laken Tomlinson, Daniel Brunskill, Aaron Banks, Tom Compton

Much to the chagrin of Northern California fans, the 49ers chose to keep Compton in their initial 53-man roster. The 32-year-old veteran will mean a major downgrade should either Tomlinson or Brunksill suffer an injury. Meanwhile, Banks missed a ton of time injuring himself over the summer after San Francisco made former Notre Dame All-American a surprise second-round pick.

Unlike other positions, I expect San Francisco to comb through the waiver, free agency, and trading bloc to find another security guard. It cannot go into week 1 with this depth chart.

Middle: Alex Mack

Mack, who signed to the Atlanta Falcons last spring, has only missed two games in the past six seasons. Despite his advanced age of 35, San Francisco is confident that the six-time pro bowler will stay healthy. With that in mind, there’s a good chance that Jake Brendel will either return to the training squad or the active squad after being fired on Tuesday.

Defensive Line: Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Dee Ford, Samson Ebukam, DJ Jones, Kentavius ​​Street, Kevin Givens, Arden Key, Zach Kerr, Maurice Hurst

The San Francisco 49ers’ defense ends on Kentavius ​​Street, left, and Nick Bosa warms up while playing NFL soccer … [+] Training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, August 10, 2021. (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu)

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Initially, the 49ers will have 11 defensive linemen in their 53-man roster. That will change as soon as Maurice Hurst is placed on the injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. There is also the option of another player being dealt before Week 1 while other teams are calling San Francisco about possible trades.

As it stands, this could be one of the deepest units in the entire NFL. Nick Bosa and Dee Ford appear to be 100% after playing a total of three games last season. Javon Kinlaw showed up in his second preseason with the 49ers. Samson Ebukam appears to be a tremendous EDGE rush threat after coming free-hand from the Los Angeles Rams. Hell, Zach Kerr is a starter-caliber player who takes the field with second and third units. It will be interesting to see how the 49ers’ line of defense evolves forward.

Linebackers: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Marcell Harris

The 49ers’ decision to swap Jonas Griffith on Tuesday opened the door to Marcell Harris to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The former late round choice is making the transition from security and has done well over the summer. Harris also gives San Francisco flexibility with specialty teams.

It all starts, of course, with all-pro Fred Warner and the talented youngster Dre Greenlaw. If they stay healthy and perform well, this will be one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL.

Cornerback: Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, K’Waun Williams, Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas, Davontae Harris

San Francisco 49ers Deommodore Lenoir (38) intercepts a pass for Kansas City Chiefs Noah. away … [+] Gray, 83) during an NFL football game on Saturday, August 14, 2021 in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo / Scot Tucker)

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To say it was surprising that San Francisco chose to keep Harris over Dontae Johnson would be an understatement. The 49ers wanted experience with two rookies playing roles in the cornerback. Even then, we can expect another move in this position before week 1.

Security: Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Talanoa Hufanga, Tavon Wilson

There’s a damn good chance Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will return to the 49ers training roster after being fired on Tuesday. The former Pro Bowler came up with an interception in the preseason final on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders and was able to provide experience. For now, the 49ers will likely rely on Hufanga to some extent. USC’s round five rookie pick was one of the most impressive numbers in Santa Clara this summer.

Specialists: Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper

No surprises here.

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With the 49ers starting their training camp tomorrow, now is the time to wrap up our look at the 49ers roster for 2021 with a look at secondary school.

Jason Verrett

When Richard Sherman’s injuries forced Jason Verrett into the starting XI, the veteran used his full potential. While Verrett struggled with injuries throughout his career, none of it showed in 2020 as he was able to play 802 defensive snapshots of his career.

Verrett’s ability to be a lockdown man corner was enormous for a 49ers defense who struggled all season to generate a pass rush with Nick Bosa and Dee Ford off the line-up. These injuries forced Robert Saleh to use the Blitz more frequently than ever before in his tenure with the 49ers, necessitating the need for man-marking in secondary school.

Verrett would end 2020 with 60 tackles – a career high – and 2 interceptions, while allowing a quarterback rating of just 76.2 on throws in his coverage.

San Francisco was able to bring Verrett back on a one-year contract for $ 3.6 million.

Emmanuel Moseley

Moseley originally came to the 49ers in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, worked his way into the starting line-up for nine games in 2019 and started 2020 as one of the two best cornerbacks of the 49ers.

Injuries would put Moseley out of the starting XI in the middle of the 2020 season, and his substitute’s game would keep him on the sidelines for all but 175 snaps in the second half of the year.

The concern at Moseley is its ability to stay healthy. He was injured on his NFL debut against the Oakland Raiders in 2018 and struggled with injuries again in 2020. In three NFL seasons, Moseley has a high of just 576 snapshots in one season.

The 49ers re-sign Moseley for a 2-year contract for $ 9.384 million. While the numbers look impressive, Moseley’s cap hit for 2021 is very low and the dead cap for 2022, should it be released, is below $ 2 million.

K’Waun Williams

San Francisco was able to re-sign Williams for 1 year for $ 2,377,500 during the vacancy.

Williams was one of the first free agents to be signed by the 49ers after being taken over by John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, and has been one of the top secondary players for the past four years.

Braced by injuries in 2020, Williams was limited to a career low of 284 snaps and allowed a quarterback rating of 81.9

Dontae Johnson

Johnson has been primarily an outside cornerback throughout his career and was moved inside after injuries to Williams and Jamar Taylor. Johnson had zone coverage issues on his first start at Nickel Corner against Buffalo. Johnson would hold up much better against Washington over the next week.

Ambry Thomas

Playing for Michigan as a true freshman, Thomas was named Wolverines’ Skill Position Player of the Year in 2019. Under the coordination of Dan Brown, the Michigan defense was very heavy with man marking and Thomas excelled in showing the ability to line up effectively both outside and in the slot. In addition to his duties as cornerback, Thomas returned with kickoffs and even played some offensive for Michigan, counting two receptions for five yards and one rush for eleven yards in 2018.

Demomodore Lenoir

Lenoir was a three year old starter for the Oregon Ducks, his most productive season coming in his sophomore year when he finished with the best three interceptions and 12 passes of his career. Much like his 49ers draft pick Ambry Thomas, Lenoir was rarely challenged for showing the ability to take down the best receivers in the Pac 12, including current New England Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry.

Jimmie Ward

After the 2019 season, the 49ers gave Ward a new $ 28.5 million 3-year deal to return. Even if he doesn’t make a lot of big plays, he’s great at stopping opponents from making them too, and that’s his main job.

While Ward would miss a chance at an interception that could have changed the result against New Orleans, a few weeks later he would come up with two major forced fumbles in a jaw-dropping win over the Los Angeles Rams.

The 849 snaps Ward played in 2020 were the most the seven-year-old veteran has played in his career, and he finished third best with the 49ers with 73 tackles overall. Ward’s ability to slide down from its normal safety position and cover a slot receiver or tight end in nickel or dime situations offers a lot of flexibility and allows DeMeco Ryans to disguise the covers.

Jaquiski Tartt

Tartt is one of the best collateral in the NFL when she’s healthy. Unfortunately for the 49ers, the six-year veteran has missed 24 games in the past four seasons and never played a full 16-game schedule.

The veteran played a career low of 373 Snaps in 2020. The highlight of his season was the season opener against Arizona when he intercepted a pass from Kyler Murray, Murray’s first turnover in his young career against the 49ers.

In 2020, Tartt completed 30 tackles, one interception and four passes defended

Marcell Harris

Harris made four starts in 2021, finishing them with 37 tackles, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two restored fumbles

The 2018 round six draft pick had problems with missed tackles early in his career as he was a bit over-aggressive, but showed a huge improvement in that area, reducing his missed tackles to the top 9.8 percent of his career.

Tony Jefferson

Jefferson broke into the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 after signing as an undrafted free agent. James Bettcher, the 49ers’ new Senior Defensive Advisor, was the coach of the Outside Linebackers at Arizona at the time before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator. This gives the 49ers additional information about the type of player and the person who Jefferson is.

The veteran has not played a game at the Baltimore Ravens since his cruciate ligament rupture in Week 5 of the 2019 season. He will almost certainly fight for the squad spot.

Tavon Wilson

Originally a second-round draft pick for the New England Patriots, Wilson would only make four starts with the club before joining the Detroit Lions for four seasons and then joining the Indianapolis Colts for 2020.

Wilson was primarily a rotation game throughout his career, starting only 45 of the 125 games played in his career. There was much like it last season with Indianapolis as he only made two starts while playing 422 snaps, 203 of which were in special teams.

Hufanga’s story

Hufanga was named Consensus First-Team All-American and Pac 12 Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. Hufanga suffered two broken collarbones, a split shoulder and had concussions while at USC. While his talent would have lifted him much higher in the design order, those injuries dropped him. Despite the injury history, this was the perfect place to take a risk for a player who has shown that he can be a very strong player with health issues.

In just six games in 2020, Hufanga proved to be a playmaker with 62 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 pass breakup and 2 forced fumbles.

Tarvarius Moore

The 2018 third-round draft pick entered the final year of his rookie contract. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles tendon in the last OTA training session of the offseason and will miss the season.

Outlook for 2021

Verrett, Moseley and Williams are said to be the starters on the outside, Tartt and Ward are safe.

The planned secondary school starters’ injury history means the depth of this group could be tested throughout the season. Up to this point in his career, Verrett could only play at least 13 games twice in one season, as a member of the Chargers in 2015 and last season.

It is similar with Williams, Moseley and Tartt. Williams has never played a full season; the 15 games in 2019 are a career high. The same goes for Moseley, who only played 175 snaps in the second half of 2020, and Tartt, who only played 36 games in the last four seasons.

Thomas may be able to push Moseley for the starting role against Verrett during the training camp. Lenoir and Johnson will also ensure good depth outside and in the slot.

In the security positions, Harris, Hufanga and Jefferson will fight for the backup role behind Tartt. Meanwhile, Wilson appears to be the main contender behind Ward on free security.

It will be particularly interesting to see how the 49ers use Hufanga during training camp and the preseason. The rookie spent time in college as a single high safety but was also sometimes used in a linebacker role, much like the 49ers used Marcell Harris from time to time last season and Eric Reid in 2017.

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The San Francisco 49ers cleared the defensive end of Daeshon Hall on Sunday just days before the start of training camp. This could be related to the two defensive ends the club drew up on Friday.

Hall was a third-round Panthers choice in the 2017 Texas A&M draft. He only played one game as a rookie before moving to Philadelphia, where he played 12 games in two seasons. Hall has 1.5 sacks and a tackle for loss in his 13 career games.

The 49ers added Hall to their training roster late last season and kept it through the off-season. His release reduced the 49ers’ final defensive depth for the time being, despite being last on a depth chart that featured a number of players that would make the club more likely. San Francisco trained the undrafted rookie DE Justus Reed and the former Bills DE Eddie Yarbrough on Friday.

There is a vacancy in the 49ers’ 90-man roster as there was no corresponding addition to Hall’s release.

49ers 2021 90-man squad preview: defensive end

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Predicting the San Francisco 49ers roster for the 2021 season. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty … [+] Images)

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The San Francisco 49ers’ roster now consists of 90 players after they recently drafted an eight-man class and added a few other players as undrafted free agents.

Obviously, the talk in San Francisco surrounds rookie No. 3 pick Trey Lance and incumbent starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. That will continue to be the talk during the summer months.

With that said, San Francisco is hoping to return to Super Bowl contention in 2021. In order for this to happen, depth will need to be the name of the game up and down the 49ers’ roster. Below, I provide you with my first post-draft San Francisco 49ers roster prediction for the 2021 season with a whopping 17 new players mixed in.

Quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, Josh Rosen (3)

Jimmy Garoppolo will likely be QB1 on the San Francisco 49ers roster in 2021. (Photo by Abbie … [+] Parr/Getty Images)

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It seems highly unlikely that the 49ers are going to move off Garoppolo this offseason. That would likely require another starting quarterback around the league getting injured during training camp or the preseason.

Even after selecting Lance No. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, there’s a good chance Garoppolo will be the Week 1 starter. This makes it less likely San Francisco will be forced to keep four quarterbacks. Given his upside and status as a former top-10 pick, I am going with Rosen to make the team over Nate Sudfeld. The latter could make his way to San Francisco’s practice squad.

Running Back: Raheem Mostert, Trey Sermon, Jeff Wilson, Wayne Gallman, Elijah Mitchell (5)

The selection of Trey Sermon complicates things for the 49ers. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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It was surprising to see the 49ers sign Gallman immediately ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. It was even more surprising that they exhausted a third-round pick on Trey Sermon and a sixth-rounder on Elijah Mitchel.

It’s pretty clear that general manager John Lynch and Co. are building for a future at running back. Both Mostert and Wilson are slated to become free agents next offseason. If Sermon shows out big time after a dominating late-season performance with Ohio State last year, both could be gone in 2022. For now, I am going with Gallman and Mitchell to make the 53 over former undrafted free agent JaMycal Hasty.

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk (1)

Kyle Juszczyk will be a mainstay on the San Francisco 49ers roster for years to come. (Photo by Adam … [+] Glanzman/Getty Images)

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The 49ers are one of a handful of teams who rely on a fullback in their offense. Thus far throughout his tenure in Northern California, it has worked out swimmingly for Juszczyk. He earned a Pro Bowl appearance in each of his first four seasons with the 49ers before signing a five-year, $27 million contract in free agency.

With Juice Check back in 2021, there’s no other real opportunity for another fullback to make the 53.

Tight End: George Kittle, Ross Dwelley, Free Agent Signing (3)

George Kittle remains the San Francisco 49ers’ most dynamic offensive threat. (Photo by Michael … [+] Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

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It was surprising to see San Francisco ignore the tight end position during the 2021 NFL Draft. Matt Bushman of BYU seemed to make sense before he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

As it stands right now, I fully expect general manager John Lynch and Co. to add a veteran tight end on the cheap behind Kittle and Dwelley. A sixth-round pick last year, Charlie Woerner is firmly on the roster bubble. Undrafted rookie free agent Josh Pederson seems to have practice squad written all over him. Tyler Eifert, Trey Burton and former 49ers star Delanie Walker could be options in free agency.

Wide Receiver: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd, Richie James, Austin Watkins, Free Agent Signing (6)

Richie James is favored to be the starting slot wide receiver for the 49ers in 2021. (Photo by … [+] Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Regardless of whether the 49ers go with six or seven wide receivers, the expectation here is that they’ll add a veteran during free agency with Pro Bowler Golden Tate being a top-end target. Right now, only Aiyuk and Samuel are guaranteed spots on the 53-man roster.

It’s pretty much all about the slot position. In my initial 53-man roster projection, I predict that San Francisco moves off free-agent signing Mohamed Sanu in favor of an unnamed free agent.

Considered a likely mid-round pick heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, Watkins seems to have a path to the 53-man roster as a slot option. The biggest wildcard here is going to be former third-round pick Jalen Hurd who missed each of his first two seasons to injury. He’s seemingly 100% and ready to go. It should be fun to see the talented former Baylor star do his thing in training camp and the preseason. Last year’s seventh-round pick, Jauan Jennings, is also someone to keep an eye on here.

Offensive Tackle: Trent Williams, Mike McGlinchey, Colton McKivitz (3)

Trent Williams anchors the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

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With San Francisco having selected Aaron Banks in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Daniel Brunskill could move to a swing tackle position while backing up at guard and center. That type of flexibility could also enable the 49ers to carry just eight offensive linemen.

If this is indeed the case, McKivitz will likely be battling it out with 2019 late-round pick Justin Skule for a spot on the 53. While Skule has more experience (12 career starts) he struggled as a sophomore last season. I predict that he will be left off the 53.

Guard: Laken Tomlinson, Aaron Banks, Daniel Brunskill, Jaylon Moore (4)

The selection of Aaron Banks changes the dynamics for these San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Robin … [+] Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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A surprise second-round pick from Notre Dame, Banks should start out of the gate at right guard. It was an area of concern for San Francisco a season ago. Already boasting pro-ready pass-blocking skills, the reigning All-American should find a seamless transition to the NFL game.

As for Tomlinson, the former Detroit Lions first-round pick has proven to be consistently good since joining the 49ers back in 2017. In fact, he’s been one of San Francisco’s strengths on this unit over the past few years.

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After that, it’s going to be all about competition at guard. I fully expect San Francisco to go with more flexibility. That’s why recent signing Tom Compton is likely an odd-man out. Brunskill can play pretty much every offensive line position. Rookie fifth-round pick Jaylon Moore can line up at both tackle and guard. That will play a role here.

Center: Alex Mack (1)

Alex Mack was a huge offseason addition for the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty … [+] Images)

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There’s a chance these 49ers opt to keep two traditional centers. With that said, the addition of Mack changes the landscape here.

A six-time Pro Bowl performer dating back to his days with the Browns and Falcons, Mack has missed a combined two games over the past six seasons. In fact, he’s failed to play a 16-game slate just twice in his 12-year career. Should Mack miss some time, Brunskill could replace him over the short-term. Look for Jake Brendel to be another option on the practice squad.

Defensive End: Nick Bosa, Samson Ebukam, Dee Ford, Arden Key (4)

Dee Ford’s health will play a role in the San Francisco 49ers’ roster decisions. (Photo by Michael … [+] Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

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Going with four traditional edge rushers seems to be a bit of a surprise. That’s especially true with Bosa coming off a torn ACL and the 49ers not being able to rely on Ford to stay healthy. It would certainly be a risk given how much San Francisco struggled in this area a season ago.

There’s also multiple reasons for this projection. Ebukam was among the most-underrated free-agent signings of the cycle. Still only 26, he played in all 16 games in each of his four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams — recording 17 quarterback hits and nine sacks over the past two seasons.

The addition of Key also can’t be lost in this. While the former mid-round pick from LSU never panned out with the Raiders, he’s still only 25 years old. It’s also important to note that San Francisco committed $125,000 in guarantees to Key once he was released by Las Vegas. The team is expecting him to contribute.

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A lot of this will come down to whether Ford proves himself to finally be healthy during camp. The former Pro Bowler redid his contract this offseason after missing a combined 20 games in his first two years with the 49ers. If Ford is not healthy, it will open the door for the likes of Jordan Willis and Kentavius Street to make the 53. A free-agent signing could also be in the cards. Expect multiple practice squad slots to be allocated to the edge position with Alex Barrett and Corbin Kaufusi being options.

Defensive Tackle: Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Jones, Zach Kerr, Maurice Hurst (5)

Zach Kerr was an underrated free agent signing for the 49ers. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Here’s a position that’s absolutely stacked for the 49ers. Surprisingly, they added Kerr and Hurst to what was already a deep position after re-signing the underrated Jones to a one-year contract. This is going to create a ton of competition behind starters in Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw.

Kevin Givens’ recent arrest on assault charges will play a role here. If he’s not cleared in a court of law, the former undrafted free agent is likely to be gone. As for the two offseason additions noted above, Kerr completely flew under the radar. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 10th-best defensive tackle in the NFL last season — grading out better than any 49ers player at this position from a pass-rush perspective.

Meanwhile, Hurst boasts a tremendous amount of upside. He played darn well in three seasons with the Raiders prior to being a surprise release earlier in the offseason. The former Michigan star has recorded 17 quarterback hits and eight sacks in his career.

Linebacker: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Justin Hilliard (4)

Could Justin Hilliard make the San Francisco 49ers roster? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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San Francisco primarily uses two linebacker sets in its base defense. That means depth is lesser of a concern at this position behind star starters Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. For general manager John Lynch and Co., the biggest key when it comes to the WILL position is both special teams play and and an ability to step in and contribute 10-15 defensive plays a game.

A former undrafted free agent from Florida Atlantic, the 23-year-old Al-Shaair more than proved his worth a season ago. In 16 games (five starts), he recorded 35 tackles and an interception. He’s also a core special teamer.

This is why I project San Francisco opting to move off free-agent signing Nathan Gerry. He was the single-worst cover backer in the NFL with the Eagles a season ago.

Sure the 49ers want experience, but Hilliard makes more sense. If the former Ohio State star were healthy, he’d have been a mid-round pick. The 49ers’ decision to give him a huge number in guaranteed cash post-draft tells us a story here. They expect him to break camp, at least as a practice squad player.

Cornerback: Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, K’Waun Williams, Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir, Free Agent Signing (6)

Re-signing Jason Verrett was a big deal for the 49ers. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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This gets incredibly convoluted due to the Richard Sherman situation. If San Francisco is able to re-sign the future Hall of Fame cornerback, it will likely keep six cornerbacks. Given the lack of experience behind the 49ers’ three starters, that might actually be in the cards.

For now, I am going with a surprising five in-house cornerbacks on the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster. This means the likes of Ken Webster, Mark Fields and Tim Harris will either be training camp casualties or find themselves on the practice squad.

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As for depth, San Francisco could kick the tires on other free-agent options should Sherman sign elsewhere. Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland and Dre Kirkpatrick could all be options. The short of it? Expect San Francisco to keep six cornerbacks while potentially moving off one of its defensive tackles or running backs during camp.

Safety: Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Tarvarius Moore, Tavon Wilson, Talanoa Hufanga (5)

The selection of Talanoa Hufanga could lead to a surprise release by the 49ers. (Photo by Jevone … [+] Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Surprisingly, I have the 49ers moving off former late-round pick Marcell Harris during camp after he struggled in spot action throughout his first three NFL seasons. There’s a reason for this. San Francisco went out there and added two safeties to the mix during the offseason. It obviously is not happy with the depth behind Ward and Tartt — two injury-plagued players.

The selection of Hufanga in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft is interesting. The hard-hitting former USC standout will be a core special teams performer out of the gate and could eventually replace Tartt at strong safety moving forward. He’s considered one of the better late-round picks in the draft.

In this initial roster projection, I have Tavon Wilson making the 53 over the aforementioned Harris as well as former undrafted free agent Jared Mayden from Alabama. There’s also a chance San Francisco signs veteran safety Tony Jefferson after hosting him for a visit earlier in the offseason. That would likely lead to the end of Wilson’s short tenure in the Bay Area.

Specialists: Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper (3)

These three spots are etched in stone after San Francisco re-signed Pepper to be its long snapper over the immediate future. Both Gould and Wishnowsky are under multi-year contracts and continue to do their thing.

San Francisco 49ers Roster Analysis

Could Trey Lance start for the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie? (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty … [+] Images)

Getty Images

A lot of this could change in the coming weeks and months. If Trey Lance proves that he’s ready to handle the starting quarterback duties out of the gate, Jimmy Garoppolo might find himself calling another NFL city home next season. That would either lead to San Francisco adding another veteran or relying on a combination of Josh Rosen and Nate Sudfeld to back Lance up.

MORE FROM FORBES2021 NFL Draft: San Francisco 49ers Believe Trey Lance Is A Franchise QuarterbackBy Vincent Frank

Remaining on offense, the running back and wide receiver positions are going to be of utmost intrigue during the 49ers’ offseason program. Kyle Shanahan and Co. did not plan on adding two running backs in the draft. What does that mean for Wayne Gallman after he signed with San Francisco shortly before the annual event?

At wide receiver, Shanahan might believe that the 49ers have six NFL-caliber players. I just don’t see it that way. Should we see struggles behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, it would not be a surprise if San Francisco kicked the tires on a free-agent addition or a potential trade. The brass certainly has to be concerned about its slot position.

Defensively, the front seven and safety position appear to be stacked right now. That should lead to some big battles. It could also lead to the 49ers pulling off a trade or two in order to acquire future draft capital. This is something to keep an eye on.

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The San Francisco 49ers bring back free agent CB Emmanuel Moseley. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee / The Boston … [+] Globe via Getty Images)

Boston Globe via Getty Images

Only a few days left until the start of the NFL Free Agency, the San Francisco 49ers take care of some business. First and foremost, this includes General Manager John Lynch and Co., who is solving some issues related to their 40+ upcoming free agents.

It was reported on Friday that San Francisco has re-signed Emmanuel Moseley, an exclusive rights cornerback, on a two-year deal worth up to $ 10.1 million. The platoon returns a likely starter in a defensive secondary school that previously included five upcoming free agents.

The 49ers also announced that they have written out their colleague offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill while they have released the defensive end, Ronald Blair.

Blair’s move was largely procedural as he was set to be free to pick on March 17 after missing all of last season with an injury.

As for Brunskill, he could fit in with the 49ers right guard depending on what happens in the off-season. Below, I’ll break down these steps as San Francisco prepares for the free agency.

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San Francisco 49ers create flexibility by re-signing from Emmanuel Moseley

Exclusive tenders for someone like Moseley will be valued at between $ 2.1 million and $ 4.8 million, depending on the success the free agent has had in his career. For Moseley, 24, that number would likely have been somewhere in the middle – about $ 3.45 million.

By signing a multi-year contract with Moseley, San Francisco likely saved a small portion against the 2021 NFL wage cap. It doesn’t matter that the cap has decreased due to the decline in sales caused by COVID-19. Depending on the structure of the $ 10.1 two-year contract and the incentives it contains, the 49ers could save north of $ 2 million. Currently, the 49ers are an estimated $ 24.42 million below the cap.

Moseley, a former vacant free agent from Tennessee, has started 17 games in the past two seasons. During this time he has recorded 97 tackles, 17 defended passes and two interceptions.

If you can get the youngster into a multi-year contract, take care of some business before you have a free hand. Cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams are expected to hit the open market. Sherman is unlikely to come back.

Offensive line depth increased on the heels of Daniel Brunskill News

The San Francisco 49ers re-sign exclusive agent Daniel Brunskill. (Photo by Fred Kfoury … [+] III / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Another former vacant free agent, Brunskill can play all five offensive line positions. He started all 16 games a season ago and offers both flexibility and depth.

As with Moseley, its bid value will likely be right in the middle of the minimum and maximum for someone of its caliber. It is estimated that the price will be around $ 850,000.

At this point it seems clear that San Francisco will try to upgrade the right side either through the draft or through the free agency. Keeping Brunskill does not change that. In fact, he was a substitute level starter in 2020.

The San Francisco 49ers continue to work on the salary cap in front of the free agency

Jeff Wilson will play an important role in San Francisco going forward. (Photo by Kiyoshi Mio / Icon … [+] Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

At the start of the off-season, San Francisco agreed to new contracts with Jeff Wilson, Ross Dwelley, and Marcell Harris. All three were non-exclusive agents. Each step saved a bit against the salary cap. As mentioned above, the same can be said about Moseley.

Wilson is expected to count towards $ 2.05 million after the former free agent won a total of 733 yards and 10 touchdowns on a clip of 5.3 yards per touch a season ago. At the moment he is the RB2 of the 49ers behind Raheem Mostert.

MORE FROM FORBES4 Questions The San Francisco 49ers must answer early in the NFL off-seasonBy Vincent Frank

Dwelley is likely to stand behind George Kittle as the 49ers’ backup bottleneck. This of course depends on what General Manager John Lynch and Co. do in the off-season. Dwelley has had a career-best season with 19 catches and is expected to make $ 1.6 million in 2021.

Meanwhile, Harris’ retention for depth is a bit big. While the former late round player from Florida had problems at times, he is a top performer on a special team. With Jaquiski Tartt given free choice, this became a priority. Harris is expected to earn a base salary of $ 850,000 in 2021.

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