This week, rookies reported to training camp. When veterans arrive next week and the practices begin in earnest, all eyes will focus more on some players than on others. Of course, everyone will take note of the rookies and parse each day's media reports to try to glean whether John Lynch has landed a stud or a dud. Because of how they played during organized team activities (OTAs), there does not seem to be much of the latter, but fans will still follow closely.
Every year, there are particular battles for starting positions that the Faithful are interested in. These might be a backup competing with a 4th-round pick after the previous year's starter left in free agency. It might be two career backups who were signed in free agency to replace someone who retired. It might be a second-year player trying to fend off a new arrival. Some of these battles are obvious and significant, while others are more nuanced and complex. Still others might not seem important at the time, but end up playing major roles in deciding games later. Here are some to watch.
Dee Winters vs. Nick Martin for the #2 linebacker spot
When Dre Greenlaw was gone for most of last season, Dee Winters received the nod to replace him. Winters' 44 tackles might have been adequate, but that was nothing compared to the man he replaced—Greenlaw had 120 the year before. That led John Lynch to select Martin with the 75th pick in this year's draft. In the 2024 college season, Martin went down with an injury and only tallied 47 tackles—in 5 games. The year before at Oklahoma State, he was a machine, taking down the ball carrier 140 times, including 16 tackles for loss.
Now healthy, that is the player Lynch hopes he drafted. This coming year, who lines up next to Fred Warner will play a significant role in the overall defense's production.
Upton Stout vs. Tre Brown vs. Darrell Luter, Jr. vs. Siran Neal for slot cornerback
Last year, the Niners started the year with Charvarius Ward at one cornerback position and Deommodore Lenoir at the other. Isaac Yiadom was penciled in as the slot corner. However, Yiadom struggled and was eventually replaced by rookie Renardo Green, who had filled in admirably for Ward when the veteran was out. Now that Ward is gone, though, that nickel spot is open again. The 49ers drafted Stout in the 3rd round as the possible heir, but Tre Brown, a free agent from Seattle, is another option, as is Darrell Luter, a 49ers 5th-round pick from 2023. The 49ers also added to that mix by signing veteran backup Siran Neal, who came over from Miami.
Stout looks to have the inside track, but this bears close attention, as the performance in the secondary will be greatly affected by the slot production.
Which leads to ...
Ji'Ayir Brown vs. Jason Pinnock vs. George Odum for the two safety positions
This one is slightly tricky, as one safety slot is Malik Mustapha's when he returns, but no one is sure when that will be, so determining that placeholder will be key. But the other safety slot is uncertain for a different reason. In 2023, Lynch drafted Brown out of Penn State, and his rookie year looked promising. However, last season, his play was erratic, raising enough questions to wonder if he will be able to hold down a starting spot this year. Lynch, therefore, acquired Jason Pinnock, who started two years for the New York Giants, in free agency. He has not come here to play quietly on special teams.
George Odum is a special-teams specialist, but he has played a lot of snaps at safety when injuries have taken down starters. A veteran of seven years, Odum knows the system well. At the beginning of the year, two from this group will likely be on the field, but when Mustapha returns, who gets to stay on the field will be the question.
Demarcus Robinson v Jacob Cowing v Jordan Watkins for the #3 (and then #4) receiver spot
Brandon Aiyuk will likely begin the year on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings will be the top two receivers. It is also likely that Demarcus Robinson will be suspended for the first few games, as he has recently received three years' probation for a DUI violation, and the league often levies penalties from its personal conduct policy when such incidents occur. That leaves the #3 wideout position open.
Jacob Cowing is an elusive 4th-round pick from last year who shone in OTAs. Brock Purdy and others have noted the polish in his route running. But this year's 4th-round pick, Jordan Watkins out of Ole Miss, scored 9 touchdowns in the SEC last year. Both have excellent speed—Cowing with a 4.38 40 and Watkins with a 4.37. But Watkins is a little bigger. How Kyle Shanahan envisions using them will also be important.
Eight-year veteran Robinson has played a lot of football and had some success, but he has hit 30, and if he misses games early, there is no guarantee he will take over the #3 spot when he returns. It is very possible that young speed and talent grab the 3 and 4 spots and don't let go.
(Additional note: Jennings is not happy with his contract, and if he is traded, the lineup will be complicated further.)
Jordan Elliott vs. Kevin Givens vs. Alfred Collins vs. CJ West for defensive tackle
Last year, Lynch signed Jordan Elliott to be one of the keys in the middle of the defensive line, but he did not perform well. A stalwart of Cleveland's excellent defensive line in 2023, his performance was disappointing, but he has undeniable talent. Perhaps he will bounce back, especially with Robert Saleh back as the defensive coordinator.
Kevin Givens, an undrafted free agent in 2019, has played his entire career in San Francisco and knows Saleh's system. He showed flashes last year. Collins, the Niners' 2nd-round pick this past April, is a huge, run-stuffing lineman who was taken to bolster the run D. West, a 4th-round selection, apparently has some promising pass-rush moves to go along with stout run defense play. West looked good in OTAs, and some foresee him as having an inside track for one of the slots.
One would think a team does not take a player in the 2nd round with the thought he will spend most of his time on the bench, but Collins has been recovering from a calf injury that has kept him from taking part in any activities since he joined the team.
Which leads to the biggest camp battle of all ...
Health vs. injury
This is the most important battle for every team in the league every year, and we saw with great dismay last year how the season unraveled when player after player went down. This year, Collins is not only a concern with his calf, but Pearsall has also missed time due to a tight hamstring, and Ji'Ayir Brown is recovering from an ankle procedure. First-round pick Mykel Williams has missed time due to a hamstring issue, Jennings' calf has caused him trouble, defensive lineman Yetur Gros-Matos has had some difficulties with his knee, and Odum has had a knee issue.
All are expected to be ready for training camp, but that word expected always inspires anxiety among the Faithful. And these, of course, do not include the recovery from surgery of Aiyuk and Mustapha. How decisively health can win the battle over injury this year will do more to determine wins and losses than any individual position battle will. We'll all be watching with crossed fingers and bated breath.