The significant portion of free agency is coming to an end and while the 49ers do appear to still have some holes on their roster, we can start to better assess what the 53-man roster could look like in five weeks from now. Matt Maiocco has begun a preliminary look at training camp performances, focusing today on the defensive players. We're less than a week into camp but after the first day off, now is as good a time as any to start assessing how folks are improving or hurting their chances of making the roster.
After the jump I've broken down the current roster into three groups. The first is "53-man roster" and is the group that of players I feel are locks or I have a lot of confidence they'll end up on the roster for one reason or another. This group could obviously chance with additional free agency moves. Given the delay in getting a deal done with Aubrayo Franklin I've left him entirely off the list. Might as well not tempt karma multiple times.
The second group is "question marks". These guys have something about them that raises just enough doubt that I'm not quite prepared to move them on to the 53-man roster quite yet. There are some guys on the 53-man roster that would be question marks for you, just like there are people I consider question marks that you would post as locks. A good example of this would be a guy like Alex Boone. I think there is a good chance he makes the 53-man roster, but with a new coaching staff it is really hard to tell what their long-term plan is at the tackle position. Right now he would appear to be the best option for the swing tackle role, but I'm holding off for now. He is arguably as close to a lock as any of the question marks, but we'll see how it plays out.
The final group I've described as "unknown/longshots" because I simply don't know enough about them to say for certain where they belong.
As it currently stands, I have 39 players on my 53-man roster, 22 players as question marks, and 20 players as unknowns. I've got a few more comments after the 53-man roster following the jump.
53-MAN ROSTER
QB
Alex Smith
Colin Kaepernick
RB
Frank Gore
Anthony Dixon
Kendall Hunter
FB
Moran Norris
TE
Vernon Davis
Delanie Walker
WR
Michael Crabtree
Josh Morgan
Kyle Williams
Ronald Johnson
OT
Joe Staley
Anthony Davis
OG
Mike Iupati
Chilo Rachal
Daniel Kilgore
C
Adam Snyder
Tony Wragge
NT
Isaac Sopoaga
Ricky Jean-Francois
DE
Justin Smith
Ray McDonald
OLB
Aldon Smith
Parys Haralson
Ahmad Brooks
ILB
Patrick Willis
NaVorro Bowman
Scott McKillop
CB
Shawntae Spencer
Tarell Brown
Phillip Adams
Chris Culliver
S
Taylor Mays
Reggie Smith
Madieu Williams
K
David Akers
P
Andy Lee
LOS
Brian Jennings
Some may ask why I include Daniel Kilgore and not Alex Boone. I think the team's decision to use a fifth round pick on Kilgore and their long term need at center is the biggest reason. Chase Beeler is certainly a long-term option at center, but considering he's an undrafted free agent, he automatically falls into the question mark category. I could not justify including any undrafted rookie free agents in the 53-man confidence group because by their very nature they had question marks coming out of college.
Barring a huge rush of moves over the next few weeks, over half the questions marks will likely end up on the 53-man roster. I simply did not feel comfortable saying with some level of confidence that in five weeks these players are guaranteed to be on the roster. Some will end up on the 53-man roster, some will end up on the practice squad, and some will be looking for work.
QUESTION MARKS
RB/FB
Jack Corcoran
TE
Colin Cloherty
Konrad Reuland
WR
Ted Ginn
Dominique Zeigler
Kevin Jurovich
OT
Alex Boone
OG
Michael Person
C
Chase Beeler
NT
Ian Williams
DE
Will Tukuafau
OLB
Thaddeus Gibson
Antwan Applewhite
ILB
Keaton Kristick
Larry Grant
CB
Tramaine Brock
S
C.J. Spillman
Curtis Taylor
Colin Jones
Chris Maragos
Utility
Bruce Miller (FB/OLB)
Jeremiah Masoli (RB/QB/Returner)
UNKNOWNS/LONG SHOTS
QB
McLeod Bethel-Thompson
RB/FB
Xavier Omon
Seth Smith
WR
Tyler Beiler
Joe Hastings
Chris Hogan
Lance Long
OL
Donovan Edwards
Derek Hall
Nick Howell
Chris Patrick
Kenny Wiggins
DT
Sealver Siliga
DE
Brian Bulcke
Demarcus Dobbs
LB
Alex Joseph
Kenny Rowe
DB
Cory Nelms
Anthony West
K
Fabrizio Scaccia
INJURED
Dontavia Bogan
Nate Byham
Curtis Holcomb