Each year, we run a series of post called "90-in-90" here at Niners Nation. The idea is that we'll take a look at every single player on the roster, from the very bottom to the top and break them down a few different ways. This is to help give everyone a basic understanding of a roster. Of course, this roster will change, and some days we'll have more than one so it's not strictly one per day but you get the idea.
San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was fired this offseason for simply not getting enough quality talent on the field. One of the reasons this occurred was the decision to spend numerous picks on injured college players. The thought was they could get these players at a discount, and cash in later when they recovered from their injuries. ACL tears were the most notable recurring injury, and populate what became Baalke’s “ACL All Stars.”
Will Redmond was the last of these picks. He suffered a torn ACL in October 2015. Following the 49ers selection, Baalke sounded confident that Redmond would be ready to go when training camp. Specifically, he said, “Very comfortable with where he’s at and very comfortable that he’ll be ready to go come training camp.”
Redmond was actually ready to go early in training camp. He was a regular in practice, but took time to get back to full workouts. He did not play in the first two preseason games, but saw game action in the third and fourth games. He made the 53-man roster at the end of the preseason, but then was placed on injured reserve a few days later. He was given the designated to return option on October, which allowed him to get back on the practice field. However, he never was activated and finished the year on IR.
Scouting reports
Basic info
Age: 23 (24 on December 28)
Experience: 1 accrued season
Height: 5’11
Weight: 186 lbs
Cap status
Second year of four-year rookie contract. This season, he is due a base salary of $590,880 and a $25,000 workout bonus. If the 49ers cut him, they will save $615,880 in cap space. They would carry $218,139 in dead money this year, and $436,278 in 2018.
What to expect in 2017
He is competing with K’Waun Williams for the slot corner role. There has not been much discussion about Redmond in practice reports, but training camp will tell us more due to numerous more practices open to the media. The Williams signing suggests Redmond is in a tough position, but the importance of competition has been made clear. If he makes the roster, I think he ends up as the starting slot corner. But there is a very real chance he does not make the roster.
Odds of making the roster
I would say 50/50 at best right now. By all accounts, the ACL injury is behind Redmond. The nickel competition could be a fascinating one. Redmond and Williams seem like the more traditional competitors, but Keith Reaser and Dontae Johnson could end up in the mix depending on which one ends up starting opposite Rashard Robinson. The nickel role could be one of the standout competitions of training camp and the preseason.