49ers vs. Broncos PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers opened the preseason with a 30-9 loss against the Denver Broncos. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who has more work to do as veterans and young players fight for roster spots on the team?

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

• Connor Colby, RG, 77.8, 41 snaps
• Drew Moss, RG, 77.3, 29 snaps
• Demarcus Robinson, WR, 76.5, 18 snaps
• Jake Tonges, TE, 67.3, 38 snaps
• Corey Kiner, RB, 65.9, 34 snaps

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

• Tre Brown, CB, 93.5, 22 snaps
• Luke Gifford, LB, 89.8, 10 snaps
• Jaylen Mahoney, FS, 87.7, 44 snaps
• Chase Lucas, CB, 79.4, 59 snaps
• Dee Winters, LB, 74.2, 11 snaps

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

• Tanner Mordecai, QB, 26.4, 12 snaps
• Carter Bradley, QB, 32.8, 29 snaps
• Ameer Abdullah, RB, 38.2, 5 snaps

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

• Michael Dwumfour, DT, 29.8, 24 snaps
• Jalen Graham, LB, 30.9, 25 snaps
• Nick Martin, LB, 31.6, 49 snaps

Below are the five highest-graded Broncos players.

• Ja'Quan McMillian, CB, 92.7, 5 snaps
• Jonah Elliss, LB, 89.7, 20 snaps
• Jarrett Stidham, QB, 87.7, 35 snaps
• Calvin Throckmorton, LG, 86.2, 32 snaps
• Joshua Pickett, CB, 84.2, 10 snaps

Quarterback play

Mac Jones played 15 snaps and was the highest-graded 49ers quarterback, though he earned only a 58.9 offensive grade. He finished 4-of-7 for 74 yards, threw one interception, and was sacked twice, posting a team-high passer rating of 54.2.

Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai were the two lowest-graded 49ers offensive players. Combined, they went 9-of-20 with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

As a group, the 49ers quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 22.2.

Highest marks

Tre Brown earned the highest overall grade in the game with a 93.5 defensive mark over 22 snaps, narrowly topping Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian's 92.7 grade.

Offensive line

Connor Colby was the 49ers' top-graded offensive lineman, posting a 77.8 offensive grade in 41 snaps. He allowed no pressures and led the team with a 73.3 run-blocking grade.

• LT Spencer Burford — 2
• RT Austen Pleasants, RG Nick Zakelj, RT Isaiah Prince — 1 each

Drew Moss, at right guard, earned the highest pass-blocking grade on the team at 83.7. Ben Bartch, the projected starter at left guard, posted an 81.5 pass-blocking grade but just a 46.3 run-blocking grade.

Passing attack

Veteran wide receiver Demarcus Robinson led all 49ers pass catchers with a 76.5 offensive grade and a 75.8 receiving grade. He caught both of his two targets for 20 yards. Rookie Junior Bergen had the lowest offensive grade among receivers at 42.5.

Rookie Jordan Watkins earned the second-highest grade among 49ers wideouts with a 63.5 mark, catching three passes for 56 yards on six targets.

Tight end Jake Tonges led the position group with a 67.3 offensive grade, recording two catches for 36 yards on two targets.

Rushing attack

Rookie Corey Kiner was the 49ers' top-graded running back. He led the team with 45 rushing yards on 10 carries (4.5 yards per attempt) and earned a 65.9 offensive grade.

Pass rush and run defense

Defensive end Bradlee Anae was the 49ers' highest-graded defensive lineman, posting a 69.6 defensive grade and the second-best run-defense grade (second to cornerback Chase Lucas) on the team at 84.1.

The top pass-rushing grade went to defensive tackle Bruce Hector, who earned a 71.1 in 28 snaps. Anae and cornerback Chase Lucas each recorded a team-high three pressures.

• DE Bradlee Anae, CB Chase Lucas — 3 each
• DE Jaylon Allen, DT Bruce Hector — 2 each
• DT Sebastian Valdez, DT CJ West, DE Robert Beal Jr., DE Jonathan Garvin, DT Kalia Davis, DE Bryce Huff — 1 each

Pass defense

Cornerback Tre Brown posted the game's top coverage grade at 93.4, allowing only one reception for five yards. Safety Jaylen Mahoney recorded the second-best coverage grade for the 49ers at 80.8.

Tackling

Safety Derrick Canteen played 66 snaps and tallied five tackles, earning a game-high tackling grade of 84.2. However, cornerback Chase Lucas led all players with eight total tackles, while linebacker Stone Blanton led the team with three missed tackles.

• LB Stone Blanton — 3
• LB Nick Martin — 2
• CB Dallis Flowers, CB Jakob Robinson, DE Jaylon Allen, FS Jason Pinnock — 1 each

49ers snap counts

Offense
41 - Connor Colby (RG)
39 - Jordan Watkins (WR)
38 - Drake Nugent (C), Jake Tonges (TE)
35 - Brayden Willis (TE)
34 - Corey Kiner (RB)
29 - Carter Bradley (QB), Drew Moss (RG), Isaac Alarcon (RT), Isaiah Prince (RT)
27 - Austen Pleasants (RT), Nick Zakelj (RG), Spencer Burford (LT)
24 - Robbie Chosen (WR)
22 - Junior Bergen (WR)
18 - Demarcus Robinson (WR), Isaiah Hodgins (WR), Matt Hennessy (C), Russell Gage (WR)
15 - Ben Bartch (LG), Mac Jones (QB), Patrick Taylor (RB)
12 - Tanner Mordecai (QB)
10 - Luke Farrell (TE)
5 - Ameer Abdullah (RB)
2 - Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB), Terique Owens (WR)

Defense
66 - Derrick Canteen (SS)
59 - Chase Lucas (CB)
55 - Darrell Luter Jr. (CB)
49 - Nick Martin (LB)
48 - Bradlee Anae (DE)
44 - Jaylen Mahoney (FS)
42 - Stone Blanton (LB)
41 - Dallis Flowers (CB)
36 - Jakob Robinson (CB)
35 - Jonathan Garvin (DE), Tatum Bethune (LB)
34 - Jaylon Allen (DE)
33 - Marques Sigle (SS)
32 - Sebastian Valdez (DT)
28 - Bruce Hector (DT), Robert Beal Jr. (DE)
26 - CJ West (DT)
25 - Alfred Collins (DT), Jalen Graham (LB)
24 - Michael Dwumfour (DT)
22 - Tre Brown (CB)
19 - Kalia Davis (DT)
11 - Dee Winters (LB), Jason Pinnock (FS)
10 - Luke Gifford (LB)
9 - Bryce Huff (DE)

Special Teams
16 - Nick Martin
15 - Dallis Flowers
14 - Jalen Graham
12 - Ross Dwelley
11 - Darrell Luter Jr., Tatum Bethune
10 - Brayden Willis, Chase Lucas, Derrick Canteen, Siran Neal
9 - Jake Tonges, Luke Gifford, Robert Beal Jr., Stone Blanton, Tre Brown
8 - Bradlee Anae, Jonathan Garvin
7 - Ameer Abdullah, Jaylen Mahoney, Jaylon Allen, Russell Gage
6 - Corey Kiner, Jon Weeks (LS), Marques Sigle, Terique Owens, Thomas Morstead (P)
5 - Jakob Robinson, Junior Bergen
4 - Sebastian Valdez
3 - Isaiah Hodgins, Jake Moody (K), Kalia Davis
2 - Bruce Hector, CJ West, Luke Farrell
1 - Alfred Collins, Connor Colby, Curtis Robinson, Drew Moss, Isaiah Prince, Matt Hennessy, Nick Zakelj, Spencer Burford