The San Francisco 49ers must hit NFL free company earlier than Week 1.

One factor grew to become clear through the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason win over the Denver Broncos Saturday night time. Depth is lacking because it pertains to a number of spots on the 49ers’ roster heading into Week 1 towards the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10.

As Brock Purdy made his first look since present process offseason elbow surgical procedure, left sort out Trent Williams was not on the sector to guard his blindside. As a substitute, that obligation fell on third-year reserve Jaylon Moore.

The previous fifth-round decide from Western Michigan struggled for the second consecutive sport to open the preseason. He allowed two pressures on 18 pass-blocking snaps. It was so unhealthy that head coach Kyle Shanahan schemed away from his aspect a number of occasions all through the sport. That included a number of occasions throughout Purdy’s scoring drive to open the sport:

On the opposite aspect of the ball, depth out on the sting must be seen as a priority. With Nick Bosa nonetheless holding out for a brand new contract, there has not been an entire lot on this space by way of two preseason video games.

San Francisco obtained to Broncos quarterbacks for 2 sacks and 5 hits Saturday night time. Of these, each sacks and 4 of the 5 hits got here from the inside of the defensive position. The one exception was a success free agent signing Austin Bryant placed on Jarrett Stidham.

The 49ers are counting on Bryant in addition to fellow free agent signing Clelin Ferrell and second-year participant Drake Jackson to provide behind Bosa on the depth chart. Not one of the three have a confirmed monitor document of success. That is actually an space of want.

Inside Choices On San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Swing sort out is an apparent space of concern for Kyle Shanahan’s squad. Along with the aforementioned Moore, the 49ers signed veteran Matt Pryor in free company. The fifth-year sort out has expertise with 14 begins over the previous two seasons. All of these begins got here at left sort out with the Indianapolis Colts.

He was not good in that function a season in the past, giving up six sacks whereas committing 5 penalties in simply 576 snaps. The expertise is sweet. The monitor document is just not.

Exterior of that, there’s not a lot on San Francisco’s 90-man roster at sort out. Jim Manning, Leroy Watson and Alfredo Gutierrez have performed precisely zero common season snaps of their careers.

I discussed Bryant and Ferrell on the defensive aspect of the ball above. The excellent news is that every has expertise. Bryant began six video games throughout his four-year run with the Detroit Lions. The previous fourth-round decide from Clemson recorded 11 quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks throughout that span. We’re not speaking about somebody who has been extraordinarily productive throughout his NFL profession.

The identical factor may be stated about fellow former Clemson star Clelin Ferrell, who was the No. 4 total decide of the then-Oakland Raiders again in 2019. In 4 seasons with the Silver and Black, Ferrell registered 32 quarterback hits and 10 sacks. Whereas he’s proven flashes by way of two preseason video games, the monitor document speaks for itself.

Enter into the equation 2022 second-round decide Drake Jackson from USC. He was fairly good in restricted motion final season, placing up eight passes defended, six quarterback hits three tackles for loss and three sacks. Although, the grind of a 17-game season caught as much as Jackson as a rookie.

“In the direction of the tip of the season, I might say my physique wasn’t the identical because it was beginning the season,” Jackson stated again in June, by way of ESPN. “I do know that after all it should put on down, however I really feel like I did not have sufficient, so I simply form of preserve working and attempt to have what I want for the remainder of the season.”

The hope is that elevated bulk will resolve these points. However the concept of counting on Jackson and his inexperience behind Bosa can’t be seen as best for brand new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

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NFL Free Agent Choices For The San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco presently has $10.8 million to spend below the 2023 NFL wage cap. As soon as the staff indicators Nick Bosa to what shall be an historic contract, that quantity will truly develop by a number of million. Lengthy-term contracts are likely to decrease preliminary cap hits.

Because of this common supervisor John Lynch and Co. are in place so as to add a pair veterans on the aforementioned want positions heading into Week 1.

The higher information right here? San Francisco has a number of choices it may possibly contemplate in free company. At sort out, the likes of Taylor Lewan and Jason Peters are accessible on the open market.

The No. 11 total decide of the Tennessee Titans again in 2014, Lewan has earned three Professional Bowl journeys all through his profession. The Michigan product has began 100 of a doable 105 video games throughout this span, all at left sort out.

At one level in his profession, Peters was among the many finest tackles within the sport. He earned a Professional Bowl spot every season from 2007-2016. Whereas Peters is a bit lengthy within the tooth at 41 years outdated, he’s made it clear he needs to play this season. The previous Arkansas standout performed the function of a swing sort out for the Dallas Cowboys final season, getting in 10 video games with one begin. He continued to play properly in that restricted motion.

There are much more choices out on the sting. Veterans Melvin Ingram, Mario Addison and Carlos Dunlap are all accessible on the NFL free agent market.

Of that group, Ingram appears to be the most effective match. The three-time Professional Bowler recorded 10 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss and 6 sacks in a part-time function with the Miami Dolphins final season. He’s a perfect situational go rusher and will spell Jackson at occasions in 2023.

Addison has expertise enjoying in San Francisco’s 4-3 scheme. Whereas the veteran struggled with the Houston Texans final sason (one sack), he’s a 12 months faraway from placing up seven sacks for the Buffalo Payments.

Dunlap, 34, additionally has expertise within the 49ers’ 4-3 scheme. Over the course of the previous two seasons, the veteran registered 26 quarterback hits and 12.5 sacks. He’s been uber productive throughout his NFL profession with 11 seasons of a minimum of six sacks.

The 49ers have tried to fill out the margins of their roster at want positions with free agent signings. Out on the sting, that included bringing in former Dallas Cowboys first-round decide Taco Charlton not too long ago. He was simply positioned on injured reserve earlier this week, resulting in an apparent want.

Based mostly on what we noticed from Moore and different tackles Saturday night time towards Denver, offensive sort out additionally must be addressed.

I absolutely count on Lynch and Co. to kick the tires on these veteran choices over the subsequent week or so. It wouldn’t be a shock if a minimum of one of many gamers talked about above is signed for depth.