2026 OTA/Camp Battles by Position

LG battle should be good, I wanted Bisontis with our first pick but I like what I'm hearing about Colby

Originally posted by Since07:
Cowing is 5'9 170lbs, Guerendo is 6'0 220lbs. Cowing should be the PR because that requires more agility, Guerendo should be KR and put his shoulder down to punish tacklers is the way I see it.

except guerendo has no vision and fumbles

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

D-Line on the hunt 💪 pic.twitter.com/pk4erfNuva

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 30, 2026

I really hope our this group stays healthy and plays well for us this year.

Agree 💯%, and I'll just add that adding Kaelon is going to help that *workout warrior* culture that they had during the dynasty years. Jerry, Craig, and so many players were year round workout warriors during the dynasty years. I think that helped their durability during those years.

Anything that helps us stay healthy is a plus.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

The squad really isn't changed much from last year, it's just getting back a few injured players (Fred, Bosa, Mykel, Ricky, Cowing)

Strength is still going to heavily depend on team health. If healthy, I'd say the following are clear upgrades:

WR: Evans, Stribling, Cowing > Jennings, Bourne

LB: Greenlaw >> Winters

DT: Osa, Halton > Elliot, Davis (probably)

Outside of that, it's kinda TBD with some dart throws at CB, OL, and DE.

S and TE are completely unchanged. RB may be a wash.

A few injuries and we would be in as bad of shape as last year unless this rookie class is almost all big-time ballers.

IMO, the hugest win for our defense getting a major boost would be if Sigle could clearly beat out Brown to start. That would allow Malik to just be a missile in the run game, and hopefully improved pass rush would get us more turnovers.

That nickel rush of Bosa, Williams, Osa, and Height sounds like a problem for NFL teams.

Coaching staff has changed a bunch too. I think the new coaches will make a big difference on the defense. I'm so glad they are expanding their defensive concepts past the Wide 9, and prioritizing the DB's more than in the past.

Raheem Morris > Robert Saleh
Matt Eberflus = Gus Bradley
Jerry Gray > Daniel Bullocks
Cameron Clemmons ? Brian Fleury

I'm not sure I can say Morris is better than Saleh. But Gray is definitely better than Bullocks.

If I had to score our position groups last year, versus this year on paper before the season, I'd probably go with something like this:

2025 –> 2026
QB 8/10 –> 9/10
RB 8/10 –> 8/10
TE 7/10 –> 7/10
WR 5/10 –> 7/10 (Bigger, faster now, but need healthier)
OT 7.5/10 –> 7.5/10
IOL 6/10 –> 6.5/10 (tiny bump for FAs + Colby development)

DE 6.5/10 –> 6.5/10 (Bosa still carrying, no proven bookend)
DT 5/10 –> 6.5/10
LB 5/10 –> 7/10 (3 at best w/o Fred last yr)
CB 5/10 –> 5.5/10 (Dmo good, but can be better, rookies/FAs added seem like lotto tries)
S 3/10 –> 3/10

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
If I had to score our position groups last year, versus this year on paper before the season, I'd probably go with something like this:

2025 –> 2026
QB 8/10 –> 9/10
RB 8/10 –> 8/10
TE 7/10 –> 7/10
WR 5/10 –> 7/10 (Bigger, faster now, but need healthier)
OT 7.5/10 –> 7.5/10
IOL 6/10 –> 6.5/10 (tiny bump for FAs + Colby development)

DE 6.5/10 –> 6.5/10 (Bosa still carrying, no proven bookend)
DT 5/10 –> 6.5/10
LB 5/10 –> 7/10 (3 at best w/o Fred last yr)
CB 5/10 –> 5.5/10 (Dmo good, but can be better, rookies/FAs added seem like lotto tries)
S 3/10 –> 3/10

Not bad. I'd say we have a bigger jump for WR honestly. Though I'd maybe change it from 3/10 to 7/10.

Last year if you really think about it we had no WR1 all year. Coinflip on who really WR2 was between JJ and Pearsall and neither was healthy most of the year. Pearsall missing a lot more time than JJ and is arguably more talented. Cowing, Watkins almost didn't play cuz of injuries/rookie depth chart issues and even Robinson had his suspension. Overall the WR group wasn't even average due to who was available.

Obviously need the guys to stay healthy but that goes for every position. I'd also say the DT bump should be more. We didn't have a single pass rushing DT worth a lick last year. Our best interior rushers were Mykel and YGM and they missed a bunch of time. Adding Osa and bringing in Halton as well as development from the rookie DTs last year should make us MUCH stronger on the interior.

Originally posted by 49ersRing:

OTA notes from 49ers practice:

Mike Evans is annoying in the sense that he's always gonna be open and you can throw it to him every time if you wanted to. He's automatic on one route and it's a free first down. Kittle said Evans killed it in red zone last week.

Jacob Cowing…

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) June 3, 2026

Good stuff outside of halton.
also agree a lot of the D success will hinge on MM

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:

OTA notes from 49ers practice:

Mike Evans is annoying in the sense that he's always gonna be open and you can throw it to him every time if you wanted to. He's automatic on one route and it's a free first down. Kittle said Evans killed it in red zone last week.

Jacob Cowing…

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) June 3, 2026

Good stuff outside of halton.
also agree a lot of the D success will hinge on MM

lot of time between now and season i wouldn't worry too much unless its still an issue in TC. These guys just did college season and combine and got drafted. Halton had an amazing combine performance and a great season so im assuing traning was brutal and rewarded himself.

The S position worries me the most i think we will be a great D but i always beleived to be a top 3 elite defense you need good S play

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

Matt Barrows on Kyle Shanahan canceling 49ers mandatory minicamp:

"I'm a little surprised. They always cancel the last day of minicamp. That's sorta the surprise, the gift Kyle gives to his players for practicing hard. Now they're giving them the whole minicamp off. I'm a bit… pic.twitter.com/WkEKdXa6xA

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 4, 2026

I think last years injuries are in his head.

Originally posted by Crown:

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

Matt Barrows on Kyle Shanahan canceling 49ers mandatory minicamp:

"I'm a little surprised. They always cancel the last day of minicamp. That's sorta the surprise, the gift Kyle gives to his players for practicing hard. Now they're giving them the whole minicamp off. I'm a bit… pic.twitter.com/WkEKdXa6xA

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 4, 2026

I think last years injuries are in his head.

ya OTA isnt going to be the difference. I actually thought it was a smart move it was a good incentive to the players where if everyone buys in and gets involved (100% reported to OTA) then they will be rewarded

Originally posted by ritz126:

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by 49ersRing:

OTA notes from 49ers practice:

Mike Evans is annoying in the sense that he's always gonna be open and you can throw it to him every time if you wanted to. He's automatic on one route and it's a free first down. Kittle said Evans killed it in red zone last week.

Jacob Cowing…

— Kyle Posey (@KP_Show) June 3, 2026

Good stuff outside of halton.
also agree a lot of the D success will hinge on MM

lot of time between now and season i wouldn't worry too much unless its still an issue in TC. These guys just did college season and combine and got drafted. Halton had an amazing combine performance and a great season so im assuing traning was brutal and rewarded himself.

The S position worries me the most i think we will be a great D but i always beleived to be a top 3 elite defense you need good S play

Agree. Their safeties scare the s**t out of my. I do like the Davis signing though . Hopefully an improved pass rush coupled with Morris can help mask their deficiencies

Originally posted by ritz126:

Originally posted by Crown:

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

Matt Barrows on Kyle Shanahan canceling 49ers mandatory minicamp:

"I'm a little surprised. They always cancel the last day of minicamp. That's sorta the surprise, the gift Kyle gives to his players for practicing hard. Now they're giving them the whole minicamp off. I'm a bit… pic.twitter.com/WkEKdXa6xA

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 4, 2026

I think last years injuries are in his head.

ya OTA isnt going to be the difference. I actually thought it was a smart move it was a good incentive to the players where if everyone buys in and gets involved (100% reported to OTA) then they will be rewarded

Yeah I leaned on the 100% attendance of OTA for the canceling of the last day.

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

Originally posted by ritz126:

Originally posted by Crown:

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

Matt Barrows on Kyle Shanahan canceling 49ers mandatory minicamp:

"I'm a little surprised. They always cancel the last day of minicamp. That's sorta the surprise, the gift Kyle gives to his players for practicing hard. Now they're giving them the whole minicamp off. I'm a bit… pic.twitter.com/WkEKdXa6xA

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 4, 2026

I think last years injuries are in his head.

ya OTA isnt going to be the difference. I actually thought it was a smart move it was a good incentive to the players where if everyone buys in and gets involved (100% reported to OTA) then they will be rewarded

Yeah I leaned on the 100% attendance of OTA for the canceling of the last day.

FIFA is going to be using the field, aren't they? I thought that was why they had perfect attendance, because they wanted to be able to cancel the rest and not have to work around the soccer nonsense.