2026 Final-53: Early Predictions & Depth Chart Discussion

Originally posted by 60sFan:
For Now:

(3) QB: Purdy, Jones, Rourke

(4) RB: CMC, Black, James, Juice

(1) WB: Deebo

(3) TE: Kittle, Tonges, Farrell

(5) WR: Evans, Stribling, Robinson, Watkins, Cowing

(9) OL: Trent, Lowe, McKivitz, Jones, Willis, Brendel, Toth, Pleasants, Puni

(9) DL: Bosa, Height, White, Okuayinonu, Collins, West, Osa, Halton, Okoronkwo

(6) LB: Warner, Greenlaw, Gifford, Martin, Dugger, Bethune

(6) CB: Lenoir, Green, Stout, Jones, Prysock, Robinson

(4) S: Brown, Sigle, Mustapha, Neal

(3) ST: Pineiro, Waitman, Weeks

PUP
DL: Mykel
RB: Guerendo

IR-DR
CB: Hobbs
WR: Christian Kirk

Practice Squad
RB: Patrick Taylor Jr.
WR: Will Pauling
WR: Malik Turner
TE: Brayden Willis
TE: Hayden Rucci
OL: Connor Colby
OL: Enrique Cruz Jr.
OL: Drake Nugent
OL: Isaac Alarcón (international exception)
DL: Sebastian Valdez
DL: Bryson Eason
DL: Quinton Bell
DL: James Thompson
LB: Larry Worth III
LB: Garret Wallow
CB: Darrell Luter Jr.
DB: Ashtyn Davis

Take out Taylor he was put on IR and add in McCormick also you have one too many vets but taking Taylor off fixes that and this is a good projection

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Take out Taylor he was put on IR and add in McCormick also you have one too many vets but taking Taylor off fixes that and this is a good projection

You may change your mind on, "good projection". Going out on a limb, and make sure my PS is legit:

(3) QB: Purdy, Jones, Rourke

(4) RB: CMC, Black, James, Juice

(1) WB: Deebo

(3) TE: Kittle, Tonges, Farrell

(5) WR: Evans, Stribling, Robinson, Watkins, Cowing

(9) OL: Trent, Lowe, McKivitz, Willis, Brendel, Toth, Colby, Puni, Pleasants

(10) DL: Bosa, Height, White, Okuayinonu, Collins, West, Osa, Halton, Okoronkwo, Thompson

(5) LB: Warner, Greenlaw, Gifford, Dugger, Wallow

(6) CB: Lenoir, Green, Stout, Jones, Prysock, Robinson

(4) S: Brown, Sigle, Mustapha, Davis

(3) ST: Pineiro, Waitman, Weeks

PUP
DL: Mykel
RB: Guerendo

IR-DR
CB: Hobbs
WR: Christian Kirk
LB: Nick Martin
OL: Robert Jones

IR
RB: Patrick Taylor

Practice Squad
WR: Will Pauling
WR: Malik Turner
RB: Sincere McCormick
TE: Brayden Willis
TE: Hayden Rucci
OL: Enrique Cruz Jr.
OL: Drake Nugent
OL: Isaac Alarcón (international exception)
DL: Sebastian Valdez
DL: Bryson Eason
DL: Quinton Bell
DL: James Thompson
LB: Larry Worth III
LB: Tatum Bethune (probably traded for draft pick)
CB: Darrell Luter Jr.
DB: Siran Neal
DB: Jalen Stroman

Man I'd be stoked for Watkins and Cowing to make it and make solid contributions

55 players here...so I expect some to be put on PUP/IR or what ever.. I feel Wallow will make it for sure. Hope he makes it over Gifford. I would prefer James, Farrall, Bethune, Brown get traded or not take up a spot. But Kyle loves Brown and Bethune. I didn't expect Cowing to make the final roster, but Kyle seems to want him to make it. And with Kittle hurt, Farrall will make it. I don't expect Kittle to start the season. I feel they might take the chance of Rourke making it back to the PS, but I put him on here anyway. I just get the feeling Kyle would go with the 2 QB approach for most of the year, then come playoff time maybe bring up the PS QB stringer.

Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Kurtis Rourke

Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo

Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling, Jacob Cowing,
Deebo Samuel Sr., Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins

George Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell
Kyle Juszczyk

Trent Williams, Vederian Lowe, Robert Jones, Connor Colby, Nick Zakelj, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Carver Willis, Colton McKivitz

C.J. West, Alfred Collins, Evan Anderson, Osa Odighizuwa, Gracen Halton
Nick Bosa, Sam Okuayinonu, Romello Height

Dre Greenlaw, Garret Wallow, Nick Martin, Fred Warner, Tatum Bethune, Jaden Dugger

Mykel Williams, Keion White, Ogbo Okoronkwo Quinton Bell

Deommodore Lenoir, Jack Jones, Ji'Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, Ashtyn Davis

Renardo Green, Nate Hobbs, Ephesians Prysock, Upton Stout

Eddy Pineiro, Corliss Waitman

hyb Originally posted by Afrikan:
55 players here...so I expect some to be put on PUP/IR or what ever.. I feel Wallow will make it for sure. Hope he makes it over Gifford. I would prefer James, Farrall, Bethune, Brown get traded or not take up a spot. But Kyle loves Brown and Bethune. I didn't expect Cowing to make the final roster, but Kyle seems to want him to make it. And with Kittle hurt, Farrall will make it. I don't expect Kittle to start the season. I feel they might take the chance of Rourke making it back to the PS, but I put him on here anyway. I just get the feeling Kyle would go with the 2 QB approach for most of the year, then come playoff time maybe bring up the PS QB stringer.

Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Kurtis Rourke

Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo

Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling, Jacob Cowing,
Deebo Samuel Sr., Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins

George Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell
Kyle Juszczyk

Trent Williams, Vederian Lowe, Robert Jones, Connor Colby, Nick Zakelj, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Carver Willis, Colton McKivitz

C.J. West, Alfred Collins, Evan Anderson, Osa Odighizuwa, Gracen Halton
Nick Bosa, Sam Okuayinonu, Romello Height

Dre Greenlaw, Garret Wallow, Nick Martin, Fred Warner, Tatum Bethune, Jaden Dugger

Mykel Williams, Keion White, Ogbo Okoronkwo Quinton Bell

Deommodore Lenoir, Jack Jones, Ji'Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, Ashtyn Davis

Renardo Green, Nate Hobbs, Ephesians Prysock, Upton Stout

Eddy Pineiro, Corliss Waitman

Why would you want to trade James? I can't see Guerendo over James.

Also not sure why they'd keep Zakelj who they originally cut, especially over Toth.

Same for Anderson, also 12 DL just doesn't seem likely at all.

I know you have Rourke, but they won't go with 2 QBs, 1. Rourke won't make it through waivers IMO, and 2. the PS QB can't be the emergency 3rd QB at all.

Also no way they won't carry a dedicated LS, Weeks is a lock, there's a reason why so many teams have a dedicated LS, it's not an easy thing to do.

Originally posted by 60sFan:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Take out Taylor he was put on IR and add in McCormick also you have one too many vets but taking Taylor off fixes that and this is a good projection

You may change your mind on, "good projection". Going out on a limb, and make sure my PS is legit:

(3) QB: Purdy, Jones, Rourke

(4) RB: CMC, Black, James, Juice

(1) WB: Deebo

(3) TE: Kittle, Tonges, Farrell

(5) WR: Evans, Stribling, Robinson, Watkins, Cowing

(9) OL: Trent, Lowe, McKivitz, Willis, Brendel, Toth, Colby, Puni, Pleasants

(10) DL: Bosa, Height, White, Okuayinonu, Collins, West, Osa, Halton, Okoronkwo, Thompson

(5) LB: Warner, Greenlaw, Gifford, Dugger, Wallow

(6) CB: Lenoir, Green, Stout, Jones, Prysock, Robinson

(4) S: Brown, Sigle, Mustapha, Davis

(3) ST: Pineiro, Waitman, Weeks

PUP
DL: Mykel
RB: Guerendo

IR-DR
CB: Hobbs
WR: Christian Kirk
LB: Nick Martin
OL: Robert Jones

IR
RB: Patrick Taylor

Practice Squad
WR: Will Pauling
WR: Malik Turner
RB: Sincere McCormick
TE: Brayden Willis
TE: Hayden Rucci
OL: Enrique Cruz Jr.
OL: Drake Nugent
OL: Isaac Alarcón (international exception)
DL: Sebastian Valdez
DL: Bryson Eason
DL: Quinton Bell
DL: James Thompson
LB: Larry Worth III
LB: Tatum Bethune (probably traded for draft pick)
CB: Darrell Luter Jr.
DB: Siran Neal
DB: Jalen Stroman

I really don't have an issue with this roster, you have 5 vets, so that's good, only guy I'd probably put on the 53 is Neal, I just think he's a ST Ace, and makes it as of now.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Latest prediction after game one for day one roster:

OFFENSE: 25
QB – Purdy, Jones, Rourke
RB – CMC, Black, James, Juice
WR – Evans, Stribling, Samuel, Robinson, Watkins, Cowing
TE – Kittle, Farrell, Tonges
OT – Williams, McKivitz, Pleasants
IOL – Puni, Brendel, Jones, Colby, Willis, Toth

DEFENSE: 25
DE – Bosa, Height, Okuayinonu, White
DT – West, Osa, Collins, Halton, Thompson
LB – Warner, Greenlaw, Bethune, Dugger, Martin, Wallow
CB – Lenoir, Green, Prysock, Stout, Hobbs, Neal
S – Sigle, Brown, Mustapha, Davis

ST: 3
K – Eddy
P – Corliss
LS – Weeks

PUP – DE WILLIAMS, RB GUERENDO
IR – LOWE, GIFFORD

Slight change at linebacker. Waiting on info on Pleasants.

I don't understand any 53 projection that has Gifford over Wallow. Gifford may be some kind of special team stud but he's a terrible LB. He's useless in coverage and is not that much better against the run. I haven't gone back and looked at any of the stats, but I doubt that Gifford has ever led the team in tackles during a game, whereas Wallow did it a few times in the games he played to close out the season last year. I also can't remember ever seeing a single highlight of a play that Gifford has made on defense, which is something else Wallow has managed to accomplish. Plus, when you watch him during pre-season, Wallow is always flowing to the ball and putting himself in a position to make a play. He's been putting in time at all three LB positions as well, I believe.

Wallow can play special teams and I suspect the drop-off between his special teams play and Gifford's wouldn't be a determinative factor in the season while the drop-off between Gifford's play at LB and Wallow's is huge. Given what he's put in tape during the stretch run last year and pre-season this year I'm pretty sure someone would sign him if he got cut.

Matt Barrows was doing his Plus/Minus podcast the other day and he thought that Wallow was going to beat out Gifford. One because he's better and two because Gifford has been out most of training camp with an injury. He also suggested that Tatum Bethune has dropped down the depth chart which Barrow's thinks will be Warner, Greenlaw, Dugger, Martin, and Wallow. I sure hope KJ Wright and Kyle see it the same way. Go Niners!

I've got a feeling, the 49ers would like to move, Nick Martin, Collins and Reynardo Green for draft picks if not in some combination that would net them a LG.

Edit: wrong thread

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by 60sFan:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Take out Taylor he was put on IR and add in McCormick also you have one too many vets but taking Taylor off fixes that and this is a good projection

You may change your mind on, "good projection". Going out on a limb, and make sure my PS is legit:

(3) QB: Purdy, Jones, Rourke

(4) RB: CMC, Black, James, Juice

(1) WB: Deebo

(3) TE: Kittle, Tonges, Farrell

(5) WR: Evans, Stribling, Robinson, Watkins, Cowing

(9) OL: Trent, Lowe, McKivitz, Willis, Brendel, Toth, Colby, Puni, Pleasants

(10) DL: Bosa, Height, White, Okuayinonu, Collins, West, Osa, Halton, Okoronkwo, Thompson

(5) LB: Warner, Greenlaw, Gifford, Dugger, Wallow

(6) CB: Lenoir, Green, Stout, Jones, Prysock, Robinson

(4) S: Brown, Sigle, Mustapha, Davis

(3) ST: Pineiro, Waitman, Weeks

PUP
DL: Mykel
RB: Guerendo

IR-DR
CB: Hobbs
WR: Christian Kirk
LB: Nick Martin
OL: Robert Jones

IR
RB: Patrick Taylor

Practice Squad
WR: Will Pauling
WR: Malik Turner
RB: Sincere McCormick
TE: Brayden Willis
TE: Hayden Rucci
OL: Enrique Cruz Jr.
OL: Drake Nugent
OL: Isaac Alarcón (international exception)
DL: Sebastian Valdez
DL: Bryson Eason
DL: Quinton Bell
DL: James Thompson
LB: Larry Worth III
LB: Tatum Bethune (probably traded for draft pick)
CB: Darrell Luter Jr.
DB: Siran Neal
DB: Jalen Stroman

I really don't have an issue with this roster, you have 5 vets, so that's good, only guy I'd probably put on the 53 is Neal, I just think he's a ST Ace, and makes it as of now.

I cant see Bethune making it through waivers. Or Eason.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Why would you want to trade James? I can't see Guerendo over James.

Also not sure why they'd keep Zakelj who they originally cut, especially over Toth.

Same for Anderson, also 12 DL just doesn't seem likely at all.

I know you have Rourke, but they won't go with 2 QBs, 1. Rourke won't make it through waivers IMO, and 2. the PS QB can't be the emergency 3rd QB at all.

Also no way they won't carry a dedicated LS, Weeks is a lock, there's a reason why so many teams have a dedicated LS, it's not an easy thing to do.

My mistake about Weeks, I just copied and pasted ESPN' depth chart and removed players by position.

As far as James, I'm just not a believer....and with Black here now for the backup job, I prefer Guerendo (who actually showed us something his rookie season on offense) as the 3rd stringer. And I believe he started most of the season on special teams right? Using his speed to get downfield. It's not like the 3rd string running back gets any touches anyway. Kyle would run Deebo out of the backfield before going to the 3rd string RB. I just don't know Toth much, but remember Zakelj. I figure Kyle brought back Zakelj for a reason.

Again I know Anderson and he's made plays with us before. I also think Quinton Bell showed some flashes in these preseason games. I'm guessing Williams will be put on PUP?

And I meant come playoff time, or the last few weeks, I feel Kyle will activate which ever QB we have on the practice squad for the playoffs... so he would be on the active roster, over some other depth player who has been inactive for most of the season.

Welp, wrong about Kittle. Amazing Athlete this guy.

Originally posted by Crown:
I cant see Bethune making it through waivers. Or Eason.

I agree which makes me think they want to trade Nick Martin and Collins which will make room for those players.

Wallow wasn't particularly good in coverage Thursday so not sure both him and Gifford make it. Think they can land Wallow to the PS the easiest of all the players. Gifford would also cost more dead money to cut.