The San Francisco 49ers’ busy offseason has put a number of members of the roster on notice, and these players need a strong preseason to to avoid release.
The San Francisco 49ers enjoyed an extremely busy and productive offseason, spending significant outlay in free agency and making 10 picks in the draft. General manager John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have put a lot of time into reshaping the roster, but it is the latter who has control over the final 53.
And, due to the number of additions the 49ers have made, there are naturally a number of players whose futures with the team are under threat and will need to impress significantly to avoid being cut.
Here, we look at five such 49ers who require big performances in training camp and preseason in order to have a chance of staying on the roster.
Bruce Ellington
Much like Quinton Patton, who the 49ers made no attempt to re-sign in free agency, Bruce Ellington is a receiver who has never fulfilled his potential. While Patton seemed to lack the mindset to make the most of his abilities, Ellington has been consistently hamstrung by injury.
Ellington has been limited to just 26 games in three years and has made just 19 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns in that time. Now he heads into the final year of his deal with significant competition at slot receiver, with Jeremy Kerley having earned an extension following an impressive 2016 and the 49ers drafting Trent Taylor.
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Ellington needs a huge camp and preseason to have any hope of making the team, never mind potentially receiving an extension. Simply put, he has to stay healthy.
Blake Bell
The 49ers have a surplus of tight ends, and Blake Bell has done little in his first two years with the team to justify his place on the roster. Bell undoubtedly has athleticism, but has failed to make a significant impression with just 19 catches in two seasons.
The fact that Vance McDonald, whose playing time and production has been substantially superior to that of Bell, only remains on the team because the 49ers were unable to trade him should offer the former Oklahoma star little in the way of hope.
Indeed, the 49ers appear set to almost completely remodel their tight end depth chart, with draft pick George Kittle earning rave reviews in minicamp and San Francisco having also brought in undrafted free agent Cole Hikutini and blocking tight end Logan Paulsen. Along with that trio and McDonald, Garrett Celek also provides competition for Bell and likely goes into camp ahead of Bell on the depth chart.
Bell’s athletic gifts mean an impressive camp and preseason is not beyond him but, given the sheer amount of competition he has, it still may not be enough for him to avoid being cut.
Tank Carradine
The 49ers’ switch to a 4-3 system would seem to favor Tank Carradine, but the move to a scheme that best suits his abilities may come too late for him to salvage his career with the team. San Francisco has spent the first three years of Carradine’s career trying to turn him first into a 3-4 defensive end, and then an outside linebacker. Neither of those position changes have been successful and Carradine has started just one game in the NFL, recording four sacks.
Back playing as a 4-3 end, Carradine should flourish, but sheer numbers may mean he is cut before he can make a push for an extension in a contract year. Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead are both likely to spend time at the LEO end spot, while Aaron Lynch, Elvis Dumervil and rookie Pita Taumoepenu should get snaps rushing the passer from the edge.
Ronald Blair can also play on the edge as well as the interior and, with so many guys to contend with, even an incredible preseason and camp may not save Carradine.
Ray-Ray Armstrong
The previous 49ers regime thought highly of Ray-Ray Armstrong, who was primed to feature heavily in the 2016 season. A chest injury ended a promising start to the year in which he picked off a pass in the season opener. Even though he signed a three-year extension in December, the linebacker’s position on the team can be considered under threat.
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The 49ers have recruited heavily at linebacker in the offseason, paying big money to Malcolm Smith and trading back into the first round for Reuben Foster. Special teamers Dekoda Watson and Brock Coyle were also brought in via free agency. Throw in Eli Harold and Ahmad Brooks and the Niners’ linebacker room looks extremely crowded.
Aside from UDFAs Jimmie Gilbert and Donavin Newsom, Armstrong, Brooks, Harold and Coyle — who only signed a one-year contract — seem to be the players most likely to be cut at linebacker.
Harold remains on his rookie contract and therefore would be cheaper to keep around, Coyle has special teams value and Brooks — though approaching the twilight of his career — carries much more of a threat as a pass rusher than Armstrong having led the team in sacks last year. The deal Armstrong received should mean little to the new regime and he will have to do a lot to justify staying on it to Shanahan.
Will Redmond
A member of what became known as former general manager Trent Baalke’s “Team ACL”, Will Redmond did not play a game as a rookie in 2016 after being taken in the third round. Pegged as a slot corner due to his impressive speed, Remond comes into his second year with a huge fight on his hands to wrest that role from free-agent acquisition K’Waun Williams.
The 49ers invested further in the cornerback position when they drafted Ahkello Witherspoon in this year’s third round and, with safety Jimmie Ward experienced in the slot, Keith Reaser possessing the speed to hold up in that role and Dontae Johnson having also spent time there, Redmond may be surplus to requirements.
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San Francisco has enough talent and versatility at corner for Redmond not to be needed and — per Over The Cap — the Niners can save $615,880 by cutting him. He will have to do something special to sway them from making such a move.