49ers Mailbag: Who makes the roster cut, and how much will Purdy get paid

Welcome to 49ers Mailbag. This is a forum to have your 49ers questions answered throughout the offseason and going into the year. There were more repeat question-askers than usual this week. If you want to be included, respond to the next time a mailbag call is put out.

Without further ado.

Andy on Facebook: Do you think Cam Latu (or Brayden Willis) are still in the Niners’ plans for backup TE?

Maybe. The 49ers certainly thought highly enough of Latu to take him (in my view, way too high) in the third round last draft, but his training camp could not have gone worse. Kyle Shanahan’s dismissive answer on if he is the 49ers’ TE2 might just be a statement of fact, that Latu hasn’t been on the field, but it was not inspiring.

That said, tight end has the weakest depth on the roster. I would think Eric Saubert, a veteran blocking tight end who last played with the Houston Texans, or Brayden Willis (effectively the incumbent), has the best chance.

Keep an eye out for George Kittle’s close friend and former Green Bay Packer Robert Tonyan, though. He’s a free agent, and if the 49ers don’t like what they see from their group, they could make a move there. That feels like a late summer signing option.

Andy on Facebook: Based on what the Niners did in the draft, do you think they trust McKivitz at RT more than Feliciano/Burford at RG?

Without question. McKivitz is just fine, at least for his price point (a $2.91 million cap hit this year and $4.68 million cap hit next year). He is serviceable.

Jon Feliciano is solid, too, but he’s older, and mainly viewed as a rotational player who gives you depth you feel comfortable with. Spencer Burford is a better run game option but makes horrifying mistakes, including one that probably cost them the Super Bowl.

So, yes. The 49ers drafted Dominick Puni, who I believe will start at right guard from the jump this season, but could play anywhere on the line. They drafted Jarret Kingston, who profiles as a guard, and signed two center prospects in Michigan’s Drake Nugent and Southern Missouri’s Briason Mays.

San Francisco did want a tackle. Let’s be clear. But the tackles they wanted in Round 1 were long gone. Roger Rosengarten was their option in Round 2 and got snatched away by the Ravens, a pick before them. Caedan Wallace was a Round 3 option, but he went at 68 to the Patriots. The board was limited and didn’t fall their way at that position. But yes, they feel more comfortable with McKivitz than anyone at right guard.

Juan on Facebook: Is it likely that Trent Taylor, Ronnie Bell, Danny Gray all get cut this year? How many WRs do we need? Lol

It’s very likely two of those three receivers get cut. Here’s my 49ers pecking order:

(Blue is a lock, green likely to make the roster, yellow is on the bubble, and orange is unlikely)

In short, I think there are four receivers competing for one spot. Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are roster locks. The draft slot for Jacob Cowing suggests the 49ers think highly of him, and if he shows the ability to be their punt returner, he will make the roster.

The only avenue for Trent Taylor to make the roster is as the team’s punt returner, if they don’t feel comfortable with what Cowing and Pearsall provide. Otherwise, I expect him on the practice squad.

Ronnie Bell might be the leader in the clubhouse for the sixth receiver spot, but he had as many disappointing moments as impressive ones. He’ll have to show up well in camp.

Chris Conley is a guy the 49ers trust, but he’s a veteran who they may opt to just keep on the practice squad, whether or not he performs well enough to earn a roster spot.

Danny Gray? He has one career reception, and one career rush for a grand total of 19 yards. Unless he is healthy for all of training camp and shows up well, his time may be up. But it should be an open competition, and he’s got more speed than any of the other options. So it’s not at all absurd to think about him making the roster. Don’t mistake that for me saying it’s likely.

Andy on Facebook: Does the fact that the Niners drafted Guerendo mean the end of either Mitchell or Mason? If so, do you think Kyle will even use him to give CMC a breather?

Kyle comes from a background of using your best back like a workhorse, and McCaffrey is similarly obsessed about staying on the field. That said, it seems like a wildly irresponsible route to not work in Elijah Mitchell and/or Isaac Guerendo more than last year.

Mitchell, though, can't stay on the field. He actually looked as good as he has since his rookie year toward the end of last season, and if he can channel that, he could retain his RB2 status. Given his upside, I still expect he makes the roster. The same is still true for Jordan Mason, who provides a physical, downhill presence. I actually think there's a route for Cody Schrader to make the roster over him, but it's likelier Schrader sticks on the practice squad.

If Guerendo is as good as they valued him, he should be worked in consistently. He's not as polished a running back as Schrader, though, so it wouldn't shock me if he's the RB3 to start the year. Either way, the 49ers need to ease McCaffrey's workload a bit to keep him healthy for when it really matters, and I think they will be more proactive about that.

Ed on whatever Twitter is now: So shall us 49ers fans be all warm and fuzzy with this year’s draft picks and current roster? And if not, what should our mood be?

Ed, I love the energy. I won’t attempt to tell 49ers fans what their mood should be. That’s your prerogative. But I will say the weather on Saturday, depending on where you are in the Bay, could be glorious.

Whether you were unhappy or thrilled with the 49ers’ draft, or somewhere in the middle, I highly recommend getting yourself a pork shoulder or a pork butt, and making yourself carnitas (this will not be a traditional recipe because it’s coming from me, and because traditional carnitas use just about the whole pig, and a genuine ton of lard). This is a traditional recipe that uses three quarts of lard. Kenji Lopez-Alt has a great one, too.

If you want to do it right, get lard. If the pork will have enough rendered fat to sustain itself in whatever pot or Dutch oven you use. What I’d recommend is get a pork butt and cut it into a few hefty chunks. Dry with paper towels, then salt it with kosher salt, let it sit for a bit, maybe an hour. If you don’t want to do that, it’s fine. Throw in some cumin, maybe oregano and black pepper. Slow roast that thing with some aromatics. Throw whatever you’ve got in there: crushed garlic, cloves, bay leaves, a stick of cinnamon, a quartered onion. Traditionally, you only add orange juice or zest, which you can throw in the pot directly after squeezing, but it doesn’t hurt to throw in some Mexican Coke and/or Modelos or something similar. Some people also add evaporated milk, because that helps keep the meat tender.

Slow roast that thing and save the juices. Once it’s done, break that pork down and throw it under the broiler with some of the juices to let it crisp up. I’m not going to attempt to get into masa and how to make your own tortillas, but those are always better if you have the capabilities. Corn shrinks up and loses elasticity once it’s cooled. But that’s ambitious, especially if you don’t have a tortilla press.

You can also just use store bought and dip them in the juices to heat and crisp them up. Make yourself some pico de gallo and a tomatillo salsa (the remaining juice, remaining onions and roasted serranos and tomatillos with cilantro is a simple option). Cut up some lime wedges, cilantro, onion, tomato if you want to, and dig into whatever beer you used to cook the pork.

It’s going to take hours, so bring a TV and beer outside and listen to the Giants lose while it cooks. I have, admittedly, fallen asleep this way to the sound of Jon Miller’s voice, and there is no better nap in the world. Again, this isn’t a definitive recipe. But it’s a definitively good Saturday.

I’m not sure that answered your question. I’m actually certain it did not. But I will proselytize the gospel of pork whenever I have the chance.

Fair warning: We are getting to the weird username portion of the Mailbag. Some of these usernames have been abbreviated.

Newegg on X
better pick: Dominick Puni in the mid 3rd or Caedan Wallace in the late third?

Wallace went in the early third, at 68 to the Patriots, and I think he profiled more at tackle than Puni does. He had more athleticism than I thought Puni did, but I think Puni is stouter, with better play strength. The 49ers traded up for Puni, but because the Patriots already have Mike Onwenu at right tackle and I’m less certain about Wallace moving to the left, I’ll say Puni is the better pick.

Why didn't the Niners go dline at all?

They identified a major drop off in talent after the first round/where they’d be picking months before the draft. That's why they were active in free agency to ward off that problem at edge. Defensive tackle is a bigger question, but the board didn’t fall in a great way for them to get value. They seem to think they might have something in undrafted free agent Evan Anderson. We’ll see. Their interior defensive line is composed mainly of players who either have a lot of tread on their tires or who have proven very little.

Who wins...Bethune, Graham, Winters?

Tatum Bethune. That’s a pure vibes guess. The linebacker competition is wide open.

Does Deebo have any incentive to be in shape and play well knowing he's gone?

He does have literal incentives in his contract which are substantial. He gets $650,000 if he has 380 or more rushing yards, and $150,000 if he scores three rushing TDs, but it maxes out at $650,000, so no double-dipping. More importantly, he’s playing for his next contract. If Samuel plays well, he gets leverage in any trade-and-sign scenario, and/or free agency next summer. Even with his injury history and concerns against man coverage, he could easily earn a hefty three-year deal if all goes well this season and he gets cut.

also were there any tackles after the first 3 rounds that you liked?

Javon Foster from Missouri. He went in Round 4 to the Jaguars. That was about it, and I just thought he was solid, rather than a high-upside pick.

403 on X: What are your thoughts on drafting Pearsall having more to do with CMC then Deebo/BA? In my opinion, drafting RP will lead to CMC having less passing routes, hopefully allowing him to stay healthy another season.

I don’t agree with that assessment in terms of limiting McCaffrey as a receiver, but there is a thread there that makes a lot of sense. I think McCaffrey is the 49ers’ most important offensive asset, and his choice routes are a monumental part of the offense. He’s a better route-runner than Samuel is.

I think Pearsall, though, gives them coverage for if/when either of those two gets hurt. If McCaffrey gets hurt, Samuel can carry more of the load, and Pearsall slots in as a starter. If Samuel gets hurt, Pearsall slots in one-for-one at Z. I think the Isaac Guerendo pick is ideally a route to keep McCaffrey fresher. So, I don’t think Pearsall will limit what McCaffrey does in the receiving game, but I do think the 49ers drafted in a way that can keep their aging core fresher.

Raph on IG: With current post season trades and the draft, how do the 49ers look? Is there anyone coming through their farm system that may end up on the roster?

The 49ers look, to me, just as imposing as they did last season, but a year older, which knocks them a bit. I think the only areas of concern I have for them are linebacker, defensive tackle, tight end, and offensive tackle.

If they lose Kittle, there’s not a single player they can feel good about, unless they just spread it out and lean on Jauan Jennings. Either Kalia Davis or undrafted rookie Evan Anderson need to step up as a gap-plugger in the run game for the 49ers to feel good at defensive tackle. Linebacker without Dre Greenlaw is innately concerning because you don’t know what version of De’Vondre Campbell you’ll get, or what any of the young backers can provide, and Greenlaw’s an absolute stud.

At offensive tackle, they are betting a ton on Jaylon Moore, and maybe Brandon Parker there. They did not improve at that position.

Everywhere else, they are better. Sam Darnold might have been a better backup quarterback, but Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen (and maybe Tanner Mordecai) is a good enough pairing. They invested there.

At running back, they’re better with Guerendo and Schrader. Wide receiver is much better. Interior offensive line is much improved.

Defensive end has a lower ceiling with Yetur Gross-Matos and Leonard Floyd, but they’re more sound, reliable players than Randy Gregory and Chase Young. Losing Clelin Ferrell could hurt.

At corner and safety, they are much improved. Losing Tashuan Gipson Sr.’s leadership could hurt, but Malik Mustapha is a stud, and Talanoa Hufanga is returning.

Oh, and special teams. They have acquired the personnel for a genuinely elite special teams unit, an area they've traditionally been somewhere in the range of bad to mid. With new kickoff rules, do not dismiss that upgrade.

YYZ on IG: Any updates on a new colorway helmet for this season?

Not that I am aware of.

Lu on IG: Can we win the Super Bowl next year?

Without question. Will they? The 49ers are betting if they get back there and have to face Trent McDuffie and co. again, they’ll be better prepared personnel wise, and fresher, to be more effective. The interior of the offensive line, which cost them last year, is beefed up. And they’re better in the defensive backfield. That said, will they do it? Gut says no. And this is from a fool who went against his gut and picked them to win this last Super Bowl. Maybe they’ll get lucky and not have to face the Chiefs, though there’s a poetic justice in them getting over that hump.

Trevor on IG: The defense is largely solid but what’s the biggest question mark on that side of the ball?

Linebacker. There’s a world in which Campbell is a perfect stopgap for Greenlaw. But if he’s not, you start asking a lot of young, unproven linebackers to step in. They lost Oren Burks. It might be totally fine there, but that has to be shown.

Mike on IG: How much is Brock gonna get paid!??!!?

If he plays how he did the last two seasons, it’s going to be upwards of $50 million a year. There’s just no way around that.

Daniel Jones, who had one good season, and is perpetually confused while playing the position of quarterback, got $82 million guaranteed at signing. Even if that turns out to be a two-year agreement rather than the initial four years, that’s $41 million a year. And this is Daniel Jones, last offseason.

A 36-year-old Kirk Cousins, coming off a torn Achilles – and granted, the greatest bag-getter in NFL history – got four years and $45 million per year with $100 million in guarantees from the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

Purdy, who turns 25 in December, led the league in most categories last season. Is there any reason to believe he won’t do that again? The key is guarantees, but this is going to be something like a five-year deal worth $260-plus million, with at least $100 million in guarantees. If he’s healthy, and plays like he did last year, even without improving, it's hard for him to not get a figure like that.

BONUS: Depth chart

For those of you unwell enough to read through this to the end, thank you. Since I posted the wide receiver depth chart above, I figured it’s worth posting the rest of the roster. Anyone in blue is a roster lock. Green is likely to make the roster. Yellow is on the bubble. Orange is unlikely.

Blue: 30 players
Green: 12 players

That’s 42 players out 53, giving 11 open roster spots.

The breakdown:

QB: Maybe Tanner Mordecai pushes out one of Josh Dobbs or Brandon Allen, but he’d have to prove something, given that both have non-insubstantial guarantees. They did that with Brock Purdy and Nate Sudfeld… so, not impossible.

RB: Maybe Cody Schrader beats out Jordan Mason, but that doesn’t feel likely.

TE: It feels like every tight end spot outside of George Kittle is wide open

OL: There’s a starting four locked in outside of right guard, but Dominick Puni is a lock. Jaylon Moore and Jon Feliciano are too versatile and useful to not make it. So how does the interior offensive line competition shake out? Spencer Burford could win the starting right guard job or miss the roster.

WR: Depends on who is returning punts. If it’s not Cowing or Pearsall, Taylor has a shot, otherwise this may be a Danny Gray vs. Ronnie Bell competition, of which Bell will likely win.

DE: Does Drake Jackson make the roster? It’s hard to see him over Robert Beal Jr. in my view.

DT: Who wins at nose tackle? Kalia Davis or Evan Anderson? Or… neither? Jordan Elliot was not impressive in Cleveland, so let’s see what he offers.

LB: Fred Warner, probably De’Vondre Campbell and… who else?

CB: Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green are locked in. I’d be stunned if Isaac Yiadom missed out, too. So who else makes it? Special team stud Chase Lucas? Ambry Thomas? Rock Ya-Sin? Darrell Luter Jr.? This feels like a spot to maybe keep six.

S: This group feels settled. Ji’Ayir Brown, Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum and Malik Mustapha.

ST: Locked in.