2026 Top Roster Battles

I don't see Lowe or Sam O being cut, same with Farrell, he redid his deal recently, didn't save much, he cut out part of his option bonuses for 2026 & 2027, saved like $2.5M over the next 4yrs due to it, Lowe & Sam O got enough GTD money to be on the roster IMO, I think Toth & Jones are locked into spots right now, Toth should be the backup C, Jones likely LG right now, but I'd love to see Bitonio brought in, or Willis beating him out.

I also don't see them cutting Martin, I hope Dugger makes it as a 6th LB, I also want Zakelj off the roster, but he probably gets kept on the PS, I'm hoping they keep Cruz somehow, I think Colby makes it as of now, he's a decent player, needs to develop more, I think Neal is kept due to his ST play, White I also think makes it, as he showed enough in 2025, a 5th IDL will be interesting, idk who they'd keep, I think the first 4(Osa, Collins, West & Halton) are locks, I think they NEED to keep 4 backs, so Guerendo makes it, Taylor on the PS IMO.

I want Luter gone, not sure on Jones, I think Prysock is a lock to make it IMO, too much upside IMO, if we don't get a vet S, then Stroman has a chance, if not then PS, idk should be fun battles in the preseason to watch, QB3 should be Rourke I agree.

WR will be interesting, I still have Robinson as a lock, he saves nothing if cut, so a trade would have to happen, but Watkins/Cowing I'd like to see kept around, as they're signed through 2028 & 2027 respectviely for cheap.

I'd love to see Valdez given a shot at the 53 though, but again will be fun in the preseason.

Holy s**t those OL and DB "battles" are depressing

Originally posted by mcwoot:
Holy s**t those OL and DB "battles" are depressing

Yup. Talent is pretty thin across the NFL. Each team have their weaknesses - ours is OL and DB.

We probably have the strongest QB roster in the NFL, though. I'm looking for Kurtis to beat out Andrien for QB#3.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

I don't see Lowe or Sam O being cut, same with Farrell, he redid his deal recently, didn't save much, he cut out part of his option bonuses for 2026 & 2027, saved like $2.5M over the next 4yrs due to it, Lowe & Sam O got enough GTD money to be on the roster IMO, I think Toth & Jones are locked into spots right now, Toth should be the backup C, Jones likely LG right now, but I'd love to see Bitonio brought in, or Willis beating him out.

I also don't see them cutting Martin, I hope Dugger makes it as a 6th LB, I also want Zakelj off the roster, but he probably gets kept on the PS, I'm hoping they keep Cruz somehow, I think Colby makes it as of now, he's a decent player, needs to develop more, I think Neal is kept due to his ST play, White I also think makes it, as he showed enough in 2025, a 5th IDL will be interesting, idk who they'd keep, I think the first 4(Osa, Collins, West & Halton) are locks, I think they NEED to keep 4 backs, so Guerendo makes it, Taylor on the PS IMO.

I want Luter gone, not sure on Jones, I think Prysock is a lock to make it IMO, too much upside IMO, if we don't get a vet S, then Stroman has a chance, if not then PS, idk should be fun battles in the preseason to watch, QB3 should be Rourke I agree.

WR will be interesting, I still have Robinson as a lock, he saves nothing if cut, so a trade would have to happen, but Watkins/Cowing I'd like to see kept around, as they're signed through 2028 & 2027 respectviely for cheap.

I'd love to see Valdez given a shot at the 53 though, but again will be fun in the preseason.

The biggest thing is player health. The hope is that no one gets hurt. That's pretty much never the case, but I'm having faith that we'll be way healthier this year.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
The biggest thing is player health. The hope is that no one gets hurt. That's pretty much never the case, but I'm having faith that we'll be way healthier this year.

Personally, if I was Kyle, I'd just factor in the injuries to the draft plan and player acquisition - each offseason. I mean, just anticipate the injuries and just get more bodies behind the starters so when the injuries come (and they come every year) you have the raw bodies to develop via actual game reps. Easier said than done, of course, but I like how they got Bosa, Sam O., Keion White, Mykel Williams, and talented raw (Top Flight RAS) rookies like Mikael Kamara and Romello Height as promising elite athletic backups. An example on the OLine side is Trent Williams, but backing him up is rookie (elite RAS) Enrique who has Trent's level of athleticism.

I think that approach worked well last year. A lot of the rookies got experience because (for example) Bosa, Kittle and Warner were out for big chunks of the season. This means the scouts have to work that much harder to find those RAS gems like Enrique, and perhaps trade down some draft picks to get just more picks in day two or three to get those Elite RAS bodies to put either on the practice squad or as special teamers.

I mean they kind of do that with the RB's already. They draft RB's in the 3rd every year. But they will have good depth RB this year because of that.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by mcwoot:
Holy s**t those OL and DB "battles" are depressing

Yup. Talent is pretty thin across the NFL. Each team have their weaknesses - ours is OL and DB.

We probably have the strongest QB roster in the NFL, though. I'm looking for Kurtis to beat out Andrien for QB#3.

My money is on Kurtis too. I don't think our OL is as weak as some are saying, but the bottom line, same as every year recently, is how deep will the injury bug bite and will it be kind and avoid the key players and avoid hitting too deep in any one position? Please?

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by mcwoot:
Holy s**t those OL and DB "battles" are depressing

Yup. Talent is pretty thin across the NFL. Each team have their weaknesses - ours is OL and DB.

We probably have the strongest QB roster in the NFL, though. I'm looking for Kurtis to beat out Andrien for QB#3.

My money is on Kurtis too. I don't think our OL is as weak as some are saying, but the bottom line, same as every year recently, is how deep will the injury bug bite and will it be kind and avoid the key players and avoid hitting too deep in any one position? Please?

Agree on the OLine situation. When the OLine was healthy, they were able to handle the Seattle DLine. Personally on the injury side, I think PED's may have a factor in the 49er injuries. I'm not accusing anyone of our players in taking PED's, but old age, size/strength, and PED's do correlate - somewhat - to increased injuries. Add in the unusual number of injuries on the 49ers, and the culture that the 49ers have in terms of a high standards of excellence - I'm just connecting the dots. I can see a player desperate to perform well in the 49ers culture, taking PED's and injuring himself in doing so. Again, I'm not accusing *any* of our players being drug PED addicts, but It's well known that PED use is prevalent in the NFL. Sad to say.

Originally posted by mcwoot:
Holy s**t those OL and DB "battles" are depressing

They are on paper, but IMO, Robert Jones gives me Laken Tomlinson vibes and I think will be hard to beat out. In 2024 Jones played in and started all 17 games for the Dolphins playing next to Terron Armstead. I'm not sure about his numbers that year, but from the few games I watched on Youtube, Jones held his ground. If Jones can return to 2024 form, the 49ers have their starting LG.

And why do people think Toth will be competing at Center? Did Shanahan or Forester mention something? Looking up Toth's history, it doesn't seem like he has experience at Center? I think the competition will be between Nick Zakelj and Drake Nugent, personally I'm pulling for Nugent a true Center.

And Vederian Lowe along with Enrique Iglesias will be the swing Tackles. IMO

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by mcwoot:
Holy s**t those OL and DB "battles" are depressing

They are on paper, but IMO, Robert Jones gives me Laken Tomlinson vibes and I think will be hard to beat out. In 2024 Jones played in and started all 17 games for the Dolphins playing next to Terron Armstead. I'm not sure about his numbers that year, but from the few games I watched on Youtube, Jones held his ground. If Jones can return to 2024 form, the 49ers have their starting LG.

And why do people think Toth will be competing at Center? Did Shanahan or Forester mention something? Looking up Toth's history, it doesn't seem like he has experience at Center? I think the competition will be between Nick Zakelj and Drake Nugent, personally I'm pulling for Nugent a true Center.

And Vederian Lowe along with Enrique Iglesias will be the swing Tackles. IMO

I'm just glad they drafted some rookie OLinemen. Now there's a shot at a Puni 2.0 or a McKivitz 2.0 in a year or two (hopefully) from the rookies. The veteran free agents added to the OLine are interesting. Robert Jones looks more like a gap-power OLineman. From an athletic point of view - Enrique is more athletic than Verderian Lowe, and Lowe is more athletic than Robert Jones. Toth has played some center in the NFL, maybe that's why some are projecting him there.

A few clips of TE Dinkins blocking..



Kittle's not guaranteed to start season no?

His blocking (pass and run) might get him a roster spot over the others.

Originally posted by Afrikan:
A few clips of TE Dinkins blocking..



Kittle's not guaranteed to start season no?

His blocking (pass and run) might get him a roster spot over the others.

The funny thing is that the roster spot he might get belongs to the guy they overpaid in FA to do exactly that.

OL battle and DB is my biggest concern. Not only at the top but depth wise.

I'd like Robert Jones to win the job(tho one of the young guys running away with it would be fantastic) and hoping playing next to Trent does what it has to guys like Laken or Banks.

Secondary battle…it's gonna be scary and I can see it going in any way. Need some guys to really step it up and hope we find the best ones to keep on the 53 and sneak some potential depth onto the PS. Can see us make a trade there tho.