The 49ers spent the offseason trying to get younger, but that doesn’t mean the roster is finished. Training camp has a way of exposing the soft spots, and San Francisco still has a few areas where it could use another body - or a better one.
Offensive line is one of the clearest places to watch. The 49ers brought in Brett Toth, Vederian Lowe and Robert Jones in free agency, then added Carver Willis and Enrique Cruz Jr. in the draft.
Even with those moves, there’s still room for more depth. Left guard is set up as a real competition between Toth, Jones and 2025 seventh-round pick Connor Colby, and the team will find out whether one of them can lock down the spot next to Trent Williams.
If that battle doesn’t produce a clear answer, free agency still has veteran options who could come in on one-year deals and stabilize the position. The tackle and interior spots could use more insurance, too.
Lowe is the top backup at tackle, but Brandon Parker and Austen Pleasants are still around from last season. On the inside, Nick Zakelj and Drake Nugent are in the mix with Toth and Jones, so there could be some movement before the 53-man roster gets set.
Pass rush is another area where San Francisco may not be done. The 49ers are leaning on younger players around Nick Bosa, with Mykel Williams, Romello Height and Sam Okuayinonu leading the edge group.
All three have upside, but none has established himself as a finished product. That’s a big reason why adding a veteran would make sense, especially after the team had Bryce Huff in that role last season.
The interior picture isn’t much different. Osa Odighizuwa gives the 49ers a proven presence, but the rest of the group - Alfred Collins, C.J.
West, Keion White, Evan Anderson and Gracen Halton - is still developing. San Francisco finished 32nd in the NFL in sacks last season, so there’s obvious reason to look for more pressure off the line.
Running back could also draw attention before camp ends. Christian McCaffrey has a younger supporting cast right now, with Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. listed as the top backups. The 49ers have already said they want McCaffrey to have more help, but there isn’t a proven pass-catching option behind him at the moment.
That’s why another move wouldn’t be a surprise. Last year, after taking a hard look at the room, the 49ers traded for Brian Robinson Jr. late in the offseason. They could take a similar approach again, either through a low-cost trade or by adding a veteran to compete for the fourth running back job with James and Black.
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The appeal is easy to see from Los Angeles side, with the current depth chart still leaving room for a veteran receiver who can stabilize the middle of the lineup. Samuels recent production suggests he still has enough left to matter, and the idea of him landing on a short-term deal only adds to the intrigue as the Rams weigh whether to make a move that would hit close to home in the division. [Read more 🡒]
Purdy And Kittle Just Entered Rare 49ers History
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Three 49ers Camp Battles Could Shape Shanahans Season
Training camp usually sorts out depth charts, but for the 49ers, a few of the most important decisions are already taking shape before the pads even come on. Left guard is one of the cleaner competitions, with Connor Colby entering as the favorite and Carver Willis and Robert Jones trying to force their way into the picture. It is the kind of battle that can quietly matter a lot in Kyle Shanahans offense, where one spot on the interior can affect everything from protection to run-game timing.
The secondary has its own set of questions, and those could be just as revealing. Renardo Green is facing real pressure at cornerback from Jack Jones and rookie Ephysians Prysock, while at safety Malik Mustapha appears set, leaving JiAyir Brown, Marques Sigle and Ashtyn Davis to sort out the other starting role. With so much competition clustered in a few spots, camp will not just determine who starts, but how much flexibility the 49ers have when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]