49ers 53-man roster projection: Post-Parys Haralson trade

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly traded outside linebacker Parys Haralson to the New Orleans Saints, removing a player I had projected to the 53-man roster.

Our roster projections often are no more than barely educated guesses. We see certain things happening, and then next thing we know, the 49ers are doing something entirely different. Haralson seemed a likely roster candidate, but Adam Caplan indicated there was talk around the league that the 49ers were going to release Haralson if they could not swing a trade. Maybe they would have, but who knows how much misinformation is out there.

The 49ers have not acknowledged the trade, but assuming it is a done deal, and is for a draft pick (and not a player), it requires adjusting our roster projections. This comes after we also learned Colt McCoy is apparently the 49ers backup quarterback. I don't completely buy that as an endorsement for Week 1 of the regular season, but we take what information we can and run with it.

Given all that information, and roster cuts still to come, now seemed as good a time as any to get another 53-man roster projection together. The next projection will come either Friday morning, or in the next couple days if we see any other pertinent significant news.

OFFENSE
QB (3): Colin Kaepernick, Colt McCoy, B.J. Daniels
RB (3): Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James
FB (2): Bruce Miller, Anthony Dixon
WR (6): Anquan Boldin, Kyle Williams, Quinton Patton, Marlon Moore, Jon Baldwin, Chad Hall
TE (3): Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek
OT (3): Joe Staley, Anthony Davis, Adam Snyder
OG (3): Mike Iupati, Alex Boone, Joe Looney
C (2): Jonathan Goodwin, Daniel Kilgore

DEFENSE
DE (3): Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Tony Jerod-Eddie
NT (3): Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey, Will Tukuafu
OLB (5): Ahmad Brooks, Aldon Smith, Corey Lemonier, Dan Skuta, Cam Johnson
ILB (4): Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Nick Moody
FS (3): Eric Reid, Craig Dahl, Trenton Robinson
SS (2): Donte Whitner, C.J. Spillman
CB (5): Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Nnamdi Asomugha, Tramaine Brock, Perrish Cox

SPECIAL TEAMS
K (1): Phil Dawson
P (1): Andy Lee
LOS (1): Brian Jennings

NFI: Eric Wright, Cornellius Carradine, Quinton Dial, Marcus Lattimore, Luke Marquardt

PUP: Mario Manningham, Michael Crabtree

Week 1 Suspension: Demarcus Dobbs

Last Five On: Adam Snyder, Trenton Robinson, Will Tukuafu, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Chad Hall

First Five Off: MarQueis Gray, Jewel Hampton, Marcus Cooper, Raymond Ventrone, Austin Collie

The departure of Haralson conceivably opens the door for Cam Johnson. I previously had five outside linebackers, so it could make sense to include Johnson. That being said, Johnson injured his shoulder on Sunday and we have not gotten an update on his status moving forward. He is still practice squad eligible. Do the 49ers actually consider carrying nine linebackers?

My other tough call was at wide receiver. The first five listed seem like just about locked in. I keep wanting to leave Chad Hall off, and go with Austin Collie, and yet Hall continues getting first team snaps, and Collie continues getting fourth quarter snaps. We have to start to use that information to our advantage, right?

One option would be that the 49ers go with five wide receivers, and that opens up a spot for a guy like MarQueis Gray or Marcus Cooper. Maybe?

Keep Reading:

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• 49ers vs. Vikings: Offense arrow up, arrow down
• Jim Harbaugh more or less names a backup QB
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