Training camp has opened for the 49ers, and the big-picture expectation is already clear: this is a team that should sit somewhere in the NFC’s top tier, maybe even in the top three. But once the pads come on and the exhibition games start August 13th at home against Tennessee, the real work is in the details - and there are plenty of them.
The most urgent one is on the edge. The 49ers have been dodging the issue, but they need another pass rusher and they need one now.
Joey Bosa wants to be overpaid, or he’ll retire. Trading for Maxx Crosby is and always has been pipe.
The cleaner move is to sign Jadeveon Clowney, who posted 8.5 sacks last year with 32 pressures and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games. He ranked 15th in pass rushing and 26th against the run among the edges.
If not him, there are cheaper names in play: Haason Reddick, Kyle Van Noy, or Raheem Morris fave Leonard Floyd.
The point is simple: standing pat is not an option. The Niners need an edge rusher regardless of what happens with Height, and they should be willing to pay to get one.
Camp itself is less about the roster headline and more about how the staff handles the work in front of them, especially with Shanahan’s concussion. He may miss the first exhibition games, but there’s value in getting him back for the final x-game in Las Vegas so the team can run through its contingency plans before the season starts.
Concussions aren’t about pushing through pain; they’re about that sudden disconnect, when a player is out of reality for 20 seconds to two minutes and somebody has to step in immediately. The coaching and medical staff need to get comfortable with that process.
There are also real questions about how often Christian McCaffrey should be used. He is ready to rotate, but the key issue is whether Shanahan will actually do it.
With CMC lighter, he may not have much choice, because McCaffrey won’t hold up. In previous seasons, McCaffrey was chasing a contract push and wanted to stay on the field.
This year, apparently not, and that could help.
At receiver, the answer is not McCaffrey. His value there comes from being a vertical threat against a linebacker or safety, not a defensive back. Black may get chances to show he can do that too, and his value could show up in ways that go beyond running, including as a receiver and blocker.
Special teams has its own set of problems. Jacob Cowing fumbled punt returns, and Ricky Pearsall wasn’t good at it either.
Both also need to avoid getting exposed on special teams, where injuries can happen fast. The name to watch there is Jordan Watkins, who had a 69-yard punt return touchdown for Ole Miss.
At punter, Jack Bauwmeester gets the nod for now. He brings consistent distance and was the national co-leader in punts inside the 20.
In the secondary, Green has been drawing good reviews, but he doesn’t produce interceptions, and if that keeps up, Morris could turn to Jones. That’s why Jones was brought in.
At safety, neither is the ideal answer. Until the 49ers trade for a legitimate starter, Sigle has the higher upside and much better speed.
Martin should get the first shot at one role, and he looks like a natural fit as a designated blitzer. The job could rotate early in the season before Jaden Dugger takes over, with Martin still used on passing downs. Martin and Upton Stout as blitzers could be a real problem for opponents this year.
On the offensive line, Connor Colby is expected to get the first look, but Robert Jones is the one projected to win the job.
And at tight end, the room already looks unsettled. The team cut Khalil Dinkins, the Penn State UDFA, and added Tanner McLachlan of Cincinnati, a receiving TE and questionable blocker.
That position could be in flux all season, and the 49ers may end up scanning the league for cuts at tight end, free safety, and edge. Shanahan and John Lynch may have to live on the waiver wire at the very spots they didn’t address enough in the draft and free agency.
In Other News...
George Kittle's Status Just Became A Serious 49ers Problem
George Kittles latest setback leaves the 49ers trying to patch one of the most important spots on the roster after he was hurt in a recent game and had to exit after already turning in another productive afternoon. Before leaving, he had four catches, 25 yards and a touchdown, a reminder of how quickly he can change a game for San Francisco when he is on the field.
The immediate burden now falls on the depth chart, and the 49ers are expected to elevate Brayden Willis from the practice squad to help cover the tight end group. It is a familiar sort of test for Kyle Shanahans offense, which leans heavily on Kittles versatility and production, and now has to find a way to keep that part of the attack moving while waiting for his eventual return. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Already Have A De'Zhaun Stribling Problem They Feared
DeZhaun Stribling is already drawing attention in 49ers camp, and not just because San Francisco took him in the top of the second round after a draft slot that raised a few eyebrows around the league. The rookie wideout has the kind of size and frame that can get a team dreaming big, but his path to carving out a role is going to depend on how quickly he turns those traits into polished NFL route running.
Striblings college rsum suggests there is still plenty of development ahead, since he never topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season and had only one 100-yard game at Ole Miss. That is why the early reps matter so much for him, and why every practice clip gets extra scrutiny as he tries to show he can clean up the details and justify the investment San Francisco made. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Have Quietly Found A Crucial Offensive Line Answer
The 49ers added another layer to their offensive line mix by signing Brett Toth to a one-year deal, a move that gives them a player with real flexibility as camp approaches. Toth has worked at multiple spots up front, and that kind of versatility matters for a team that is always trying to protect itself against the wear and tear of a long season.
Where he fits will be sorted out in training camp and the preseason, but the possibilities are clear enough: he can battle for work at left guard, provide swing tackle depth, or serve as a backup center option. For San Francisco, the appeal is obvious. A lineman who can cover several jobs gives the coaching staff more ways to build the 53-man roster, even if the exact answer is still waiting to be revealed. [Read more 🡒]