The San Francisco 49ers cut their roster down to 53 players on Saturday, with the moves they made a clear signal of their commitment to youth.
The San Francisco 49ers trimmed their roster down to 53 players on Saturday, with a number of veteran players failing to make the cut. Matt Barkley and Tim Hightower were already let go on Friday, and defensive lineman Quinton Dial and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley followed them in seeing their contracts terminated 24 hours later.
Kerley was perhaps the biggest surprise, having been the 49ers’ best receiver last season. The former New York Jet’s omission is a product of the emergence of two undrafted free agent rookies in Victor Bolden Jr. and Kendrick Bourne.
Bolden had made himself virtually indispensable with two return touchdowns, but Bourne’s presence is more of a shock. The former Eastern Washington wideout produced little in preseason action after an extremely impressive performance in the opener with the Kansas City Chiefs. But his selection is indicative of the mindset of the 49ers organization under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. This is a franchise that is going to embrace youth at the expense of veterans.
Bourne is just 22 years old and offers the 49ers some much-needed size, as well as skilled route-running, at the position. Kerley, meanwhile, is 28 and plays in a slot role that fifth-round rookie Trent Taylor and Aldrick Robinson can also fill.
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The situation is same at other positions across the roster, with San Francisco feeling confident enough in rookie C.J. Beathard to cut Barkley, and being sufficiently impressed with Raheem Mostert’s efforts to let Hightower hit the market.
Up front, Erik Magnuson won the backup center role over Tim Barnes, while Dial’s release came about in part because of sixth-round pick D.J. Jones’ strong showings in training camp and preseason. The former Ole Miss defender adds to a defensive line that is already blessed with a plethora of young talent.
Ahmad Brooks was released before the third preseason game as 23-year old Eli Harold was handed the SAM starting linebacker role. All the while, Eric Reid and K’Waun Williams are very much the elder statesmen in the secondary at 25 and 26 years old, respectively.
Of course, there are still old heads on the team that will provide plenty of experience, with the veteran leadership set to come from the likes of NaVorro Bowman, Joe Staley, Pierre Garcon and Elvis Dumervil. Yet, according to Dylan DeSimone of Fourth & Nine, the average age of the 49ers roster — not including kicker Robbie Gould — is 25.5 years old.
That is a clear commitment from the 49ers to making this team younger, and it is a completely necessary one. Brought in on six-year contracts, both Lynch and Shanahan are all too aware the rebuild they have taken on will not be an overnight job and, as a result, there is little point keeping on too many veterans who figure to be past their peak when the 49ers are ready to contend.
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Instead it is better to invest in younger players who can develop as a group and build continuity. The 49ers have realized this and, though the roster is a long way from being one that looks being ready to contend, it is seemingly well set up for the future.