Training camp always hands the 49ers a fresh batch of questions, but this year’s rookie class comes with extra scrutiny. San Francisco’s draft haul has already been picked apart, and the first real chance to answer that noise starts now.
The names drawing the loudest attention are wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and running back Kaelon Black, both of whom were seen as the biggest reaches. But if the goal is to find the rookie most likely to flip the script and become a genuine surprise, cornerback Ephesians Prysock stands out.
Prysock, a fourth-round pick, enters with the kind of expectations that usually come with a Day 3 selection: not many. That also makes him a natural candidate to pop if the right people in the building believe in him, and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris seems like one of those people. Morris is a defensive backs-oriented coach, and he had to see something in Prysock to push for him.
The 49ers’ offseason moves at cornerback make the situation even more interesting. Deommodore Lenoir and Upton Stout are locked in as starters, but Renardo Green’s spot is not as secure. Kyle Shanahan’s comments earlier this offseason and the team’s actions suggest there will be a real competition at outside cornerback.
Green should win that battle, but Prysock has a path to make things uncomfortable. He brings the kind of size and physical profile the 49ers haven’t had at the position in a while, with Richard Sherman standing as one of the last and best examples. That gives Prysock a real shot against tall, big-bodied possession receivers, and it could matter in reps against Mike Evans, where he may look better than Green.
That kind of matchup advantage can turn heads quickly. Add in the fact that he can get a legitimate look without waiting on an injury elsewhere, and the door is open for him to make noise.
There are a couple of other rookies worth keeping in mind. Linebacker Jaden Dugger could get some attention, especially with Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner unlikely to see much action in camp. Edge rusher Romello Height is already on the radar as well.
Still, the clearest path to a true rookie surprise belongs to Prysock. The combination of Morris’ possible backing, a starting job that isn’t fully settled, and a physical edge at corner gives him the best chance to turn heads.
It won’t come easy, but he has a real lane to start in a way almost nobody saw coming.
In Other News...
Stefon Diggs Suddenly Makes Sense For A 49ers Team In Need
With Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk expected to open as the 49ers top wideouts, San Franciscos receiver room already looks deeper than it did a year ago. Rookie DeZhaun Stribling is in the mix for snaps too, giving the offense a handful of options as it tries to keep pace with the rest of the NFC. Even so, the idea of adding another proven target has real appeal for a team that wants more than just competent depth on the perimeter.
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 🡒]
49ers Camp Opens With A Familiar Christian McCaffrey Concern
The 49ers opened camp with the same familiar question that tends to follow Christian McCaffrey around: who can handle the load behind him if the season starts asking for more than one back to carry it? McCaffrey led the NFL in touches last season, and San Francisco is again sorting through a backup group that includes Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo, Sincere McCormick and Patrick Taylor Jr., with the usual camp competition set to sort out the pecking order.
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
The 49ers are set up to enter 2026 with nearly $72 million in available salary cap space, and part of that flexibility is expected to be rolled over because of the way several contracts are structured. In the middle of that broader picture, Mike McKivitz stands out as the rosters best bargain, giving San Francisco quality tackle play at a cost that looks especially friendly compared with the market.
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 🡒]