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.
As offensive lineman Joshua Garnett enters his second year we take a look at what he has accomplished and what we should expect from him in 2017.
Basic Info:
Height: 6’5
Weight: 321
Age: 23
Experience: 1 accrued season
Cap Status:
Joshua Garnett has $872,923 in guaranteed salary with a $1,241,983 prorated bonus over the 2017 season. If he is cut, he carries $2,114,616 in dead money and doesn’t clear any cap space. He doesn’t have a roster or workout bonus until 2019, the final year of his rookie contract.
Why he might improve:
Consistency on the offensive line usually leads to higher productivity. Garnett got caught in the NFL school rules and was not allowed to attend most of the offseason program because he had not finished finals at Stanford. (Solomon Thomas was held out this season for the same reason.) Garnett, not only didn't get the benefit of the offseason, but was also moved from the left side where he played at Stanford to right guard. He ended up playing 716 snaps, which was 69% of the 49ers offensive snaps. He rotated in and out before establishing himself solidly as right guard.
Garnett has been a full participant in the 2017 offseason. LT Joe Staley and several other veterans have spoken about Kyle Shanahan’s break downs of plays and how much more sense it makes. This should only assist Garnett’s learning curve.
Why he might regress:
Garnett has been rotating in on both sides of center during the off season. He’s been seen on the right side with the 1s and on the left side with the 2s. Offensive line coach John Benton remembers scouting Garnett coming out of college and really liked what he saw on the left. After playing for a season on the right, Benton said during phase one and two of the offseason Garnett was performing better on the right side. Before minicamp, Benton says Garnett was about even on both sides.
Odds of making the roster:
I don't see any possibility of Garnett not making the roster. The 49ers have added a few pieces on the offensive line but unless something unexpected happens, Garnett will make the 53. Veterans Jeremy Zuttah, Brandon Fusco and Garry Gilliam will all contribute as will Garnett though the line up is fluid and won’t be solidified until training camp when they start practicing in pads.