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The 53-man cutdown date is coming up soon, as the San Francisco 49ers will be required to trim their roster to the aforementioned number by 4 PM Eastern Time on August 30th.
One of the many tough decisions they'll have to make is in regard to the quarterback position, where backups
Brock Purdy and Nate Sudfeld have been taking reps in training camp and the preseason.
Currently, Nate Sudfeld has taken all of the second-team reps, making him the clear-cut backup, but Purdy has played fairly well in the preseason and could potentially be claimed by another should he be released and reach waivers.
If the 49ers are looking to ensure, with certainty, that all three of their quarterbacks remain on the roster for 2022, there's one way to do so: cutting Nate Sudfeld and re-signing him to the practice squad, while placing Brock Purdy as the second quarterback on the 53-man roster.
As a vested veteran, cutting Sudfeld would immediately make him a free agent, rather than exposing him to waivers, which means the team could immediately re-sign him to the practice squad.
If the 49ers cut Purdy, his rookie status would subject him to waivers, meaning that another team could claim him and the four years of team control on his contract.
So, if the 49ers choose to cut Sudfeld and roster Purdy, they could keep their quarterback room intact with certainty, allowing second-year player Trey Lance to have his mentor Sudfeld in the building, while keeping his potential backup-of-the-future on the roster.
Sudfeld would carry a $2 million dead cap hit if released due to the fully-guaranteed contract the 49ers signed him to at the beginning of this offseason, so this route would cost the 49ers a little extra money if they did in fact re-sign him to the practice squad at the veteran minimum.
Now, is this the most realistic option for the 53-man roster? No.
Sudfeld has taken all of the second-team reps at quarterback in practice, suggesting no signs that the 49ers would part ways with him.
More importantly, placing Sudfeld on the practice squad would only allow him to be activated to the game-day roster twice during the season, after which he would have to be placed on the active 53-man roster.
Internally, the 49ers may be confident enough in Purdy's skillset to have faith in him as the backup, but based on his lack of reps with anything but the third-team in practice, there are no indications this is the case.
Additionally, only nine of the 32 NFL teams rostered three quarterbacks, making it unlikely that Purdy gets claimed on waivers, relegating him back to the practice squad.
My projection is that the 49ers retain Lance and Sudfeld as their two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, but if they truly desire to keep all three quarterbacks with a certainty, there is a solution available, although it comes with the cost of Sudfeld not being active for more than two games.
(Episode 331) — Brian Renick is in solo to debunk the rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk being sent to Pittsburgh, why staying on the 49ers is in Aiyuk's best interest, what to make of the top 30 visits, which position group has gained the most traction as the most likely to be selected in the first round, why drafting best available isn't a bad choice and more.
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With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, the San Francisco 49ers hosted their annual local pro day at Levi's Stadium. The event showcased 44 players, including four veterans, all vying to impress coaches and team decision-makers and earn a roster spot. The 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft.
NFL local pro days provide draft prospects with ties to the local area an opportunity to showcase their talents to team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have other connections to the region where the team is based.
Terrell's Son Seeks an Opportunity
Hall of
According to Damond Talbot of NFL Draft Diamonds, the San Francisco 49ers are hosting former Iowa tight end Erick All on a pre-draft visit.
"Erick All is a beast on the field, I would not be shocked to see a team like the Niners draft him and beat teams with him like they do with [TE George] Kittle week in and week out," Talbot wrote.
STOP SLEEPING ON Erick All! | Former Iowa Tight End has had 6 Top-30 visits https://t.co/BdgyvUeUps All has Top-30 visits with the
According to Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein, who writes for "All Steelers" on the network, there's a level of confidence within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that they can strike a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk—and at a bargain rate.
"According to a team source, the Steelers and 49ers trade talks are real," Strackbein wrote. "While nothing is imminent, they 'would be surprised if it didn't happen.' But it all comes down to compensation, and Pittsburgh isn't willing to budge much on price."
While it seems unlikely that the 49ers would part ways with Aiyuk for anything less than a first-round draft
