The San Francisco 49ers are just days from getting rookies into training camp, and with an open practice for fans 11 days away, the early conversation is already shifting to the roster fights that could shape the season.
One of the most interesting spots is wide receiver No. 4.
Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and De’Zhaun Stribling look like the familiar names at the top of the offense’s pecking order, but Christian Kirk, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing could all flash enough to force their way into the mix. Even if one of them starts out buried on the depth chart, a few big plays could change that quickly.
And if injuries hit, WR4 can become WR3 in a hurry.
Left guard might be the messiest competition on the roster. Connor Colby, Carver Willis, Brett Toth, and Robert Jones all have a legitimate shot to win the job, and each comes with a different question.
Willis is the rookie trying to break through. Colby, a second-year pro, was played off the field last season.
Jones has only one season as a starter since 2021 and is coming off a serious neck injury. Toth is undersized and looks more natural at center.
With so much uncertainty, it’s the battle that feels both most open and most important.
Safety may not even turn into a real battle, but it’s worth watching because last year showed how quickly things can change. Nobody expected Marques Sigle to be the Week 1 starter at safety last season, and Raheem Morris watching a few OTA practices before the 49ers signed Ashtyn Davis was a pretty clear signal.
A backup will have a chance to push Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown for playing time, even if Mustapha’s spot may be more secure than Brown’s after last season. That push could come from a veteran not yet on the roster or from an undrafted free agent like Larry Worth III.
The third linebacker spot is another one to keep an eye on. Nick Martin, Luke Gifford, and Jaden Dugger are the names most likely in the mix for the SAM role, and the fit matters because Morris likes to walk linebackers down to the line of scrimmage.
Gifford brings experience, but he was exposed in coverage last year and opposing offenses attacked him whenever he was on the field. The 49ers may want a longer look at Dugger, their third-round pick from a year ago, since his length and versatility make him look like the better fit on paper.
Running back No. 2 could end up being a week-to-week decision. The expectation is that Bobby Turner and Kyle Shanahan will go with the hot hand behind Christian McCaffrey, and there’s already debate over which young back will seize the edge.
Fans are high on Kaelon Black and think he’ll put up more yards from scrimmage and win the job. The lean here is Jordan James, thanks to his down-to-down running style, though Black is the higher draft pick and likely to get the first crack.
If McCaffrey stays healthy, he won’t be coming off the field on passing downs, but the 49ers also won’t want to wear him down. James looks more like the natural runner, while Black profiles as the change-of-pace option.
McCaffrey won’t play in the preseason, as he shouldn’t, which means James and Black will have plenty of chances to show they can be trusted when the games start counting.
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 🡒]