The San Francisco 49ers didn’t just add bodies when they signed five recent free agents. Each of these players made a roster last season, which gives this group a real shot to stick once camp cuts start rolling in.
Still, the odds vary a lot from player to player.
On the offensive line, the door is open for Smith, but only because the 49ers need help after injuries hit the unit. Smith started two games for the Miami Dolphins last season and finished with 120 snaps.
His path likely depends on how far behind rookie Carver Willis is. If Willis is out for a few weeks, the 49ers could even consider moving him to IR.
Otherwise, Smith is battling an uphill climb, with Brett Toth, Willis and Robert Jones already in place as interior options behind the starting three. At this point, his chances don’t look strong unless the injury situation gets worse.
Hodge is in a similar fight for a spot, though for different reasons. He spent the last four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, but his production has fallen sharply, from 232 yards in 2023 to 131 yards in 2024 and just 31 yards last season.
The 49ers already have Mike Evans and De’Zhaun Stribling locked in, and Christian Kirk, Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing and Junior Bergen are all in the mix for the remaining receiver jobs. That leaves Hodge as one of six players chasing four final spots.
His most realistic outcome may be getting released and then brought back to the practice squad, where he could still be an option if injuries keep piling up.
Okoronkwo may be the strongest bet of the group. He was limited to one game last season because of a pec injury, but before that he had been averaging more than 400 snaps a year.
The 49ers have already moved on from Cam Sample, and Keion White still hasn’t shown he’s fully healthy. The depth chart isn’t exactly crowded, and Okoronkwo’s familiarity with Raheem Morris helps.
He looks like a strong fit for what the defense wants.
Herbert also has a real lane. He logged only 16 carries last year, but the timing of his signing matters.
Jordan James is missing time with a rib injury, and Isaac Guerendo is still on the PUP. With James now dealing with a second straight training camp injury, there’s a legitimate chance Herbert ends up sliding into the third spot behind Christian McCaffrey and rookie Kaelon Black.
Deguara may be in the best position of all if George Kittle isn’t ready. He played 84 snaps for the Arizona Cardinals last season and caught three passes.
With Kittle injured, the 49ers don’t have much depth behind Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges. If Kittle can’t go, Deguara should make the roster.
In Other News...
49ers Camp Just Took Another Hit As Depth Concerns Grow
The 49ers training camp continues to get thinner by the day, with injuries and maintenance days starting to pile up across the roster. Several wide receivers are still out, and the team has had to keep shuffling bodies just to keep practice moving, even as it tries to build toward the 2026 preseason schedule.
San Francisco also has been managing the workload of key players like Nick Bosa, giving veterans rest days to keep them fresh. In the middle of all that, the club has had to add outside help at receiver and along the defensive line, a reminder that camp depth is becoming a real concern before the games even begin. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Just Made The 49ers Situation Even More Awkward
Brandon Aiyuks situation has gone from tense to messy for the 49ers, with the wide receiver making it clear he would prefer a fresh start in Washington. His public comments and social media activity have kept the topic alive, including criticism aimed at San Francisco and interactions with Jayden Daniels, all of which has only added to the noise around a player the 49ers once hoped to keep at the center of their offense.
Washington, though, does not appear to be the clean exit ramp Aiyuk may have had in mind. The Commanders have concerns about his behavior and the kind of presence he would bring into the locker room, and the door to any real move still requires a formal step that has not happened yet. For the 49ers, it leaves an awkward standoff in place, with Aiyuk publicly leaning elsewhere but no obvious resolution on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Regret Passing On Proven Pass Rush Help
The 49ers spent part of the offseason weighing whether to add more proven help on the edge, but they ultimately passed on a veteran rusher who was looking for a new landing spot. With injuries and some inexperience creating real depth concerns on the defensive line, San Francisco instead turned to veteran Ogbo Okoronkwo to help stabilize the group and add another option to the rotation.
The choice to stay away from the veteran market could look even more interesting now because the player in question signed a one-year deal with Houston, a relatively modest arrangement for a pass rusher with his track record. Injury history was always part of the calculation for San Francisco, but the 49ers may still wind up wondering whether the safer bet on paper was the right one if their front continues to thin out. [Read more 🡒]