As training camp draws closer, the 49ers are still trying to sort out a few key questions, and one of them sits right in the middle of the roster: the defensive line.
CBS Sports’ Cody Edwards pointed to that group as the team’s biggest hole entering camp, writing, “If one position has to be singled out, it would be the defensive line,” Edwards wrote. “Osa Odighizuwa brings stability to the unit, but others on rookie contracts need to take the next step in their careers….
The interior offensive line remains a point of contention between myself and 49ers fans,” Edwards noted. “Although the collection is not all that exhilarating, Kyle Shanahan has proven that he can win [with whomever] he opens with in training camp.”
That uncertainty on the line is part of the broader picture for a team that, as the headline says, feels like it keeps getting farther away from the season the closer it gets. And while the roster questions linger, there’s still belief around Brock Purdy that his best football may still be ahead of him.
Former teammate Xavier Hutchinson was asked about Purdy’s ceiling, and he didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I don’t see why not,” Hutchinson answered.
“You have to prove it every single season, in every single game, and I think that’s exactly what he’s done. I’m super excited for him because I don’t even think this is the best that we’ve seen of him, and I know that he believes that himself, too.
“Like, there’s so many areas that he has to work on, and I’m excited to see him put it all together, and I just wish him the best. That’s my guy.”
There’s also a spotlight on the offensive line, where second-year player Connor Colby is being looked at as a possible candidate for a jump. The early read on Colby was mixed, with clear athletic traits showing up right away.
He flashed quickness off the snap, moved well laterally, and handled work at the second level with some comfort. But once defenders forced him to adjust or cross his face, the problems started to show.
The roughest stretch came against the Cardinals, when Josh Sweat was isolated on Colby. That game turned into a wake-up call.
Colby finished Week 3 with eight blown blocks, seven of them in pass protection, and after that, opposing teams started targeting him. He later appeared in Week 8, but only for 25 snaps, and didn’t get meaningful action again the rest of the season.
The takeaway on Colby is pretty straightforward: when he gets to be the aggressor, he looks much better. Jump sets suit him.
Sitting back and waiting for defenders to get into his chest does not. Finding that balance could decide whether he starts or not.
In Other News...
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That is where Stefon Diggs starts to make a lot of sense. He is coming off a productive season in New England after returning from an ACL tear, and he has made it clear he still views himself as someone who can line up against anyone. For a 49ers offense that could use another playmaker to complement its current group, Diggs would bring both production and a little edge, especially if the passing game needs extra help while the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
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Jordan James, Kaelon Black and Isaac Guerendo look like the names to watch most closely in that race, especially with the 49ers typically carrying four running backs and a fullback on the roster. Special teams work will matter too, which means the battle is about more than just who runs well in drills. For Guerendo, in particular, the pressure is obvious after last years limited availability, and San Francisco still has to find out whether the group behind McCaffrey can offer enough reliability to make the roster decisions straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Have One Quiet Bargain And One Growing Cap Problem
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Brandon Aiyuk, meanwhile, is shaping up as the clubs biggest cap headache. If the receiver is back in the picture, the 49ers would have to decide whether the contract still makes sense as written or whether moving on is the cleaner path, even if it comes with dead money attached. For a team trying to preserve future flexibility while keeping its core intact, that is the kind of decision that can quietly shape the next phase of the roster. [Read more 🡒]