49ers 53-man roster projection: Post-2026 NFL Draft edition

Kurtis Rourke will compete with Adrian Martinez for the practice squad job. There was a thought that Rourke would be QB2 heading into this season, but the 49ers did not trade Mac Jones. Brock Purdy and Jones will be the two on the active game day roster.

Running back (4)

Christian McCaffrey should see a significant decrease in touches—or at least as Kyle Shanahan can tolerate without feeling like he’s compromising his offense. Kyle Juszczyk, Kaelon Black, and Jordan James are locks. This means the end of the road for Isaac Guerendo, a player the 49ers drafted in 2024. Guerendo would need to prove immense value on special teams or that he can contribute more in the passing game than Black. It’s an uphill battle that we’re not expecting him to win.

Wide receiver (6)

Mike Evans Ricky Pearsall De’Zhaun Stribling Christian Kirk Those are the four you can write in permanent ink. The way the team spoke about Jacob Cowing last offseason leads me to believe he’ll get one last shot to prove he can stay healthy. That leaves one spot for Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Junior Bergen, and Malik Turner. I’ll give the nod to Watkins because of his return ability. Now, that could end up being Cowing, but I don’t see the 49ers giving up on a player after one year. Plus, you’d have a difficult time sneaking Watkins onto the practice squad as opposed to a journeyman like Robinson. I see the 49ers defaulting to speed a year after their wide receiver room struggled to separate, which is another argument in favor of Watkins.

Tight end (3)

Stribling should have tight-end-like duties, which will allow the 49ers to live in 11-personnel. It’ll be the same cast behind George Kittle as it was last season, with Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Tonges and Farrell will play special teams. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll see Kittle and Tonges together on the field in 2026 in a 12-personnel package with Evans and Stribling on the outside.

Offensive line (10)

Trent Williams Robert Jones Jake Brendel Dominick Puni Colton McKivitz Brett Toth Carver Willis Connor Colby Vederian Lowe Enrique Cruz Jr. I don’t see the 49ers being stingy when it comes to keeping offensive linemen around. Willis and Cruz Jr. would have to be out of their depth not to make the roster. I also don’t see the Niners risking losing them by trying to sneak them through waivers and onto the practice squad. There’s less concern with Nick Zakelj, Austen Pleasnats, Brandon Parker, and Drake Nugent. Left guard might be a revolving door once again this season. It’s the lone spot along the offensive line where there’s an opening. We’re not going out on a limb when we say San Francisco *probably* doesn’t want the seventh-rounder from 2025 starting.

EDGE rushers (5)

Nick Bosa Mykel Williams Keion White Sam Okuaynonu Romello Height You have starpower at the top, a fringe top 10 pick, a former second-rounder who is a tweener, the ultimate try-hard, and an uber-athletic designated pass rusher. We’ll see how long it takes for Bosa and Williams to get back into the swing of things. Mykel seems poised for a big season with the talent around him. You know what you’re getting from Sam O. If White can go every other game with *one* play to affect the game, this group has a chance to be the best EDGE group the 49ers have had in a few seasons, especially if Height ends up producing in sub-packages.

Defensive tackle (4)

Osa Odighizuwa Alfred Collins CJ West Gracen Halton Odighizuwa will bolster Raheem Morris’s defense in ways that are being underappreciated. The pass rush gets a massive and much-needed boost. He also slots the rookies from last season into their respective roles as run stuffers. Okuaynonu and White, having the versatility to kick inside, will allow the Niners to keep only four defensive tackles. Halton is the wild card of this group. Seeing how many snaps he plays compared to West this season will be fun to track.

Linebacker (6)

Fred Warner Dre Greenlaw Nick Martin Tatum Bethune Luke Gifford Garret Wallow The 49ers entered last season with five linebackers on the roster. I have them keeping one extra, as a Greenlaw hedge. Bethune missed the playoffs with a significant groin tear, but he plays the way the 49ers want their linebackers and special teamers to play. He may not be on the active roster by December, but he will be to start the season. Martin will get his shot to learn WILL behind Greenlaw. If Greenlaw gets injured, that’s where things get interesting. It’s also when the team might look at rookie Jaden Dugger, who I have making the practice squad. If Garret Wallow doesn’t make it, he will likely get promoted until he’s out of elevations.

Cornerback (7)

Renardo Green Deommodore Lenoir Upton Stout Jack Jones Nate Hobbs Siran Neal Ephesians Prysock This means it’s the end of the road for Darrell Luter Jr. Rookie Ephesians Prysock makes it due to a numbers game but these moves are the 49ers shifting away from youngsters and relying on veterans, both on the field and on special teams, at cornerback.

Safety (3)

Ji’Ayir Brown Malik Mustapha Marques Sigle Hobbs and Jones give the Niners flexibility here. Do I think the 49ers enter Week 1 with three safeties? No. Do I think they use a roster spot on the likes of Derrick Canteen, Darrick Forrest, Patrick McMorris, or Jalen Stroman? Also no. I think the fourth safety isn’t on the roster yet. The 49ers are entering the next phase of the offseason, telling us the defensive line will decide how potent this side of the ball can be. Because the best player in this safety room looked like the real deal as a rookie, but took a step back in his second season. Mustapha should improve a year removed from an ACL injury and with Fred Warner back on the field, but this is not a safety room opposing offenses will shy away from.

Specialists (3)

LS Jon Weeks K Eddy Pineiro P Corliss Waitman