PFF’s highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players vs. Broncos, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 21-20 in their second preseason game. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do?

Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Broncos.

• Deebo Samuel, WR, 85.7, 7 snaps
• Jauan Jennings, WR, 81.2, 14 snaps
• Trey Lance, QB, 74.8, 35 snaps
• Sam Darnold, QB, 73.5, 29 snaps
• Cameron Latu, TE, 72.2, 34 snaps

Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.

• Dee Winters, LB, 93.0, 14 snaps
• Qwuantrezz Knight, FS, 90.5, 14 snaps
• Marcelino McCrary-Ball, LB, 84.2, 22 snaps
• Samuel Womack III, CB, 84.1, 33 snaps
• Kyahva Tezino, LB, 83.3, 8 snaps

Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.

• Leroy Watson, RT, 37.2, 47 snaps
• Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, 49.1, 31 snaps
• Jake Brendel, C, 53.9, 12 snaps

Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.

• Spencer Waege, DT, 26.8, 19 snaps
• Breeland Speaks, DE, 29.2, 12 snaps
• Ambry Thomas, CB, 29.6, 33 snaps

Quick Takeaways

Trey Lance ended up being the highest-graded quarterback of the game. He finished 12-of-18, passing for a game-high 173 yards while tossing a touchdown and an interception. While Lance struggled early, he ended the game strong, leading the Niners on an eight-play, 64-yard game-winning drive capped off by a 32-yard Jake Moody field goal.

Sam Darnold also finished among the four highest-graded offensive 49ers players. He finished 11-of-14 for 109 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Brock Purdy, who led a game-opening scoring drive, his only action of the game, was actually the lowest-graded 49ers quarterback. He finished the game 4-of-5, passing for 65 yards while adding eight yards rushing, earning a 57.2 overall grade.

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell racked up a game-high 114 receiving yards, catching seven passes on nine targets, earning an overall grade of 67.5. However, he wasn't the 49ers' highest-graded receiver. That honor belongs to Deebo Samuel, who played only seven snaps, catching two passes for 39 yards.

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was the team's second highest-graded offensive player, catching one pass for 11 yards through 14 snaps.

Tight end Cameron Latu, among the worst-graded offensive 49ers players last week, rounded out the top five against the Broncos. He hauled in three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown in his four targets.

Linebacker Dee Winters finished the game as the second-highest graded player (Broncos WR Jalen Virgil, 94.6). Pro Football Focus credited him with a tackle, an assist, a stop, and a forced fumble.

Qwuantrezz Knight was the 49ers' highest-graded defensive back. The analytics site credited him with three tackles, an assist, and two stops. Knight allowed one reception for minus-one yards on three targets and had a pass breakup.

Ambry Thomas, getting the start on Saturday night, was among the lowest-graded defenders. He was credited as allowing a 50-yard catch on his two targets and committed a penalty.

Snap Counts

Offense
48 - Ronnie Bell (WR)
47 - Ilm Manning (LT), Keith Ismael (C), Leroy Watson (RT)
45 - Jason Poe (LG), Nick Zakelj (RG)
35 - Trey Lance (QB)
34 - Cameron Latu (TE)
31 - Tyrion Davis-Price (RB)
30 - Willie Snead IV (WR)
29 - Sam Darnold (QB)
28 - Brayden Willis (TE), Tay Martin (WR)
26 - Jaylon Moore (LT)
24 - Chris Conley (WR), Jordan Mason (RB)
17 - Jack Colletto (FB)
16 - Corey Luciano (C), Dazz Newsome (WR), Joey Fisher (LG)
14 - Jauan Jennings (WR), Jeremy McNichols (RB), Jon Feliciano (C), Matt Pryor (RT), Ross Dwelley (TE)
12 - Aaron Banks (LG), Colton McKivitz (RT), Jake Brendel (C), Spencer Burford (RG)
11 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
10 - Troy Fumagalli (TE)
9 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR), Brock Purdy (QB)
7 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
6 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)

Defense
33 - Ambry Thomas (CB), Jalen Graham (LB), Ji'Ayir Brown (FS), Samuel Womack III (CB), Tayler Hawkins (FS)
32 - Austin Bryant (DE)
30 - Alex Barrett (DE), Curtis Robinson (LB)
26 - D'Shawn Jamison (CB), Myles Hartsfield (SS)
25 - T.Y. McGill (DT)
24 - Marlon Davidson (DT)
23 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB)
22 - Marcelino McCrary-Ball (LB)
19 - Spencer Waege (DT)
18 - Clelin Ferrell (DE), Isaiah Oliver (CB), Kevin Givens (DT)
14 - Dee Winters (LB), Kerry Hyder Jr. (DE), Qwuantrezz Knight (FS), Tre Swilling (CB)
12 - Breeland Speaks (DE), Charvarius Ward (CB), Fred Warner (LB), La'Darius Hamilton (DE), Talanoa Hufanga (FS), Tomasi Laulile (DT)
11 - A.J. Parker (CB)
10 - Arik Armstead (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT)
8 - Kyahva Tezino (LB)
6 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB)

Special Teams
12 - A.J. Parker, Cameron Latu, Curtis Robinson
11 - Brayden Willis, Jalen Graham, Ji'Ayir Brown
10 - Samuel Womack III
9 - Charlie Woerner, Jack Colletto
8 - Jordan Mason, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Myles Hartsfield, Ross Dwelley, Tre Swilling
7 - D'Shawn Jamison, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS), Tyrion Davis-Price, Willie Snead IV
6 - Jake Moody (K), Qwuantrezz Knight, Tay Martin
5 - Ambry Thomas, Chris Conley, Dee Winters, Kyahva Tezino
4 - Ronnie Bell, Tayler Hawkins
3 - Alfredo Gutierrez, Corey Luciano, Dazz Newsome, Jason Poe, Joey Fisher, Keith Ismael, Leroy Watson, Nate Brooks, Zane Gonzalez (K)
2 - Alex Barrett, Clelin Ferrell, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Isaiah Oliver, Marlon Davidson, Spencer Waege
1 - Aaron Banks, Arik Armstead, Austin Bryant, Breeland Speaks, Charvarius Ward, Colton McKivitz, Danny Gray, Fred Warner, Javon Hargrave, Jaylon Moore, Jon Feliciano, Kerry Hyder Jr., Kevin Givens, La'Darius Hamilton, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford, Talanoa Hufanga, Tomasi Laulile