The 49ers’ initial 53-man roster out of camp is due Aug. 31. That’s too long to wait.
So with minicamp called off last week by coach Kyle Shanahan, that freed up time to create this Mock Roster 1.0 (with a historical look at how many players per position made initial rosters since 2017):
QUARTERBACK: 2
(2017-20: 2, 2, 3, 3)
IN: Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance
OUT: Nate Sudfeld, Josh Rosen
Key question: How quickly can Lance develop to surpass Garoppolo? Look, that question likely won’t be answered until well into the season, which should open with Garoppolo as QB1. The more pressing issue in camp: Which No. 3 quarterback gets stashed on the practice squad?
RUNNING BACK: 5
(2017-20: 4, 5, 4, 5)
IN: Raheem Mostert, Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Wayne Gallman Jr., Trey Sermon, Elijah Mitchell
OUT: Jeff Wilson Jr. (PUP), JaMycal Hasty, Josh Hokit (FB)
Key question: Could Mostert’s injury history open the door for Sermon under Bobby Turner, who’s previously coached rookie stars Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis and Alfred Morris?
WIDE RECEIVER: 6
(2017-20: 6, 6, 7, 6)
IN: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Trent Sherfield, Travis Benjamin, Jalen Hurd, Mohamed Sanu
OUT: Richie James Jr., Jauan Jennings, River Cracraft, Bennie Fowler, Kevin White, Andy Jones, Austin Watkins Jr.
Key question: Who emerges from the 2020 shadows to back up Aiyuk and Samuel, and does James’ injury history make him expendable if Benjamin and more curiously Hurd pan out? Or did we overlook Jennings, Cracraft, White, etc.?
TIGHT END: 4
(2017-20: 3, 3, 4, 4)
IN: George Kittle, Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner, MyCole Pruitt
OUT: Josh Pederson
Key question: Who’s the odd man out if they risk carrying only three tight ends after Kittle has missed 10 of 32 games since 2019?
OFFENSIVE LINE: 9
(2017-20: 9, 9, 8, 8)
IN: Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Alex Mack, Daniel Brunskill, Mike McGlinchey, Aaron Banks, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Shon Coleman
OUT: Jake Brendel, Tom Compton, Alfredo Gutierrez, Corbin Kaufusi, Dakoda Shepley, Isaiah Williams, Senio Kelemete
Key question: Is Banks a Week 1 starting guard, and is fellow rookie Moore capable of serving as the swing tackle over Coleman and other veterans?
DEFENSIVE LINE: 9
(2017-20: 7, 9, 10, 9)
IN: Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Jones, Samson Ebukam, Kevin Givens, Arden Key, Kentavius Street, Zach Kerr
OUT: Dee Ford (PUP), Alex Barrett, Darrion Daniels, Daeshon Hall, Maurice Hurst, Jordan Willis
Key question: How do edge rushers Nick Bosa (knee) and Dee Ford (back) look after injuries wiped out almost their entire 2020 seasons?
LINEBACKER: 5
(2017-20: 9, 6, 5, 6)
IN: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Justin Hilliard
OUT: Jonas Griffith, Nathan Gerry, James Burgess Jr., Elijah Sullivan
Key question: Will the 49ers reward Warner with a market-setting contract extension before the first padded practice of camp?
CORNERBACK: 5
(2017-20: 6, 5, 6, 5)
IN: Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Emmanuel Mosely, Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir
OUT: Dontae Johnson, Tim Harris Jr., Mark Fields II, Ken Webster
Key question: Can Thomas or Lenoir challenge for Moseley’s starting spot opposite Verrett?
SAFETY: 5
(2017-20: 4, 5, 3, 4)
IN: Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Marcell Harris, Talanoa Hufanga, Tony Jefferson
OUT: Tarvarius Moore (PUP), Jared Mayden, Kai Nacua, Tavon Wilson
Key question: How is the health of Tartt (toe), Harris (groin) and, most intriguing, Jefferson (knee) while Moore likely misses all year with an Achilles tear?
SPECIALISTS: 3
IN: Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Taybor Pepper
OUT: None
Key question: How limited is Gould, 38, with his range after making just 2 of 8 attempts from at least 50 yards the past two years?
