The 49ers are about to get back to work, with training camp set to officially open on July 26, one day after veterans report to Levi’s Stadium. That’s when the real roster sorting begins: players start separating themselves, coaches start narrowing the field, and the final 53-man picture starts to come into focus.
Two names worth watching closely in that process are Mac Jones and Ricky Pearsall. Both are expected to make the roster, but both still have 10 practice sessions ahead of them to keep building their case.
Jones is heading into his second year in one of the league’s better contracts, and he appears lined up to remain San Francisco’s backup quarterback. He has already shown he can handle starting duties, but the 49ers would have reason to think about extending him if they want stability behind Brock Purdy. Purdy’s last full, healthy season came in 2023, so keeping Jones around longer would give the team some continuity and security.
Last season, Jones proved he can be the best backup in the league. Even so, he still has to keep showing the kind of mindset and consistency that fit Kyle Shanahan’s system if he wants a new deal.
The 49ers never had a quarterback controversy when Jones played well, and preserving that kind of calm in the room will matter again. If that continues this year, a contract extension with a slight pay rise is likely to be on the table.
Pearsall’s situation is different, but just as important. This is year three for the receiver, and it could be a defining one for his future in San Francisco.
His second season was derailed by injuries, starting with a hamstring issue that landed him on the physically unable to perform list when camp opened. He ended up playing in just nine games, fewer than he played as a rookie, while also dealing with a lingering PCL injury and an ankle sprain.
For Pearsall, the assignment is simple: stay healthy. His talent has not been the question, and the flashes he has shown in limited action point to a receiver who can produce if he can stay available.
The 49ers will eventually have to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option, and that decision could swing sharply depending on what happens this season. A breakout would push his value up.
More injuries or uneven play could drag it down.
Pearsall has the traits Shanahan wants in a wideout. Now he just has to stay on the field.
In Other News...
49ers Already Have A Few Rookies Fans May Regret Watching Closely
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Willis is one of the more interesting cases because his path appears tied to development as much as immediate opportunity, and Halton may be even tougher for fans to track once camp gets rolling. He could blend into the background behind other defensive linemen before preseason games give him a better chance to stand out, which leaves the real question centered on who can turn limited reps into a lasting impression before the roster picture starts to harden. [Read more 🡒]
The 49ers Offense Finally Has The One Thing It Lacked
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On offense, the conversation is less about subtraction and more about finally adding the kind of help that was missing a year ago. San Franciscos wide receiver play never gave the unit enough juice, and the hope is that new pieces will change the equation by giving Brock Purdy more reliable answers and a more complete set of options. DeZhaun Stribling brings one kind of element, but the real question is whether the 49ers have found the kind of difference-maker that can turn efficiency into something more dangerous. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Fans May Need To Reconsider This Questioned Draft Pick
DeZhaun Stribling drew the kind of immediate reaction that usually follows a draft pick San Francisco fans are still trying to sort out, but the early noise around him may not have told the full story. The 49ers took him in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while the selection landed with some skepticism at first, later reporting painted a more favorable picture of where he stood on boards around the league.
Striblings appeal goes beyond raw upside. Evaluators have pointed to his blocking, speed and fit in an offense that can make use of those traits, and there is already some belief he could carve out a real role sooner rather than later. With a path that may open because of injuries and uncertainty at receiver, he has started to look less like a questionable pickup and more like the kind of sleeper who can force his way into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]