When we projected the San Francisco 49ers 53-man roster last week, I struggled with who exactly the team would hold on the offensive line. One of the questions will be with Joshua Garnett do enough to keep a roster spot, or will the likes of Willie Beavers, or will one of the other veterans the team signed this offseason make Garnett expendable.
The team will be away for six weeks before training camp is here. During training camp, there will be plenty of cuts that will catch us off guard. It happens to every team every year. Will Garnett be one of those cuts this year?
ESPN put together a prediction Monday where they went through each team and chose a veteran candidate that will be cut. My answer would be Jordan Matthews, even as someone who just signed with the 49ers. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner leans towards Garnett:
Garnett, the No. 28 pick in the 2016 NFL draft, survived the 2018 season after losing the starting job to Mike Person and again dealing with injuries. Now, Garnett is entering an important year, as the 49ers already elected to decline his fifth-year option, which means Garnett can be a free agent in 2020. The range of outcomes for Garnett is large. If he can stay healthy, Garnett could stick and even potentially push for a starting job. but there’s also the chance he could get beat out for a roster spot altogether.
Garnett has the first-round tag in his favor, even with his fifth-year option being declined. With Person being a lifetime journeymen, it wouldn’t surprise if his play took a step back this season and opened the door of opportunity for Garnett. That’ll be one of the more intriguing and vital training camp battles for the 49ers.
Like Nick mentioned above, there are plenty of outcomes for Garnett’s 2019 season. Fortunately, most of them benefit the Niners. If Garnett plays out of his mind, the team likely signs him to a one-year prove it deal. If Person is dependable again, then there’s no harm no foul.
Garnett’s cap number is just over $2.9 million for 2019. $1.2 million of that becomes dead money, and $1.7 million is what the team would save. The question now becomes, will Garnett make Week 1 active roster?
Poll
Will Garnett make the team
This poll is closed
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51%
Yes
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25%
No
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22%
Only if someone else gets hurt