Roster Changes

 

Key additions

RB Tevin Coleman, WR Jordan Matthews, TE Levine Toilolo, G Ben Garland, C Wesley Johnson, DE Dee Ford, MLB Kwon Alexander, OLB David Mayo, CB Jason Verrett

 

Key losses

RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garçon, OT Garry Gilliam, DE Cassius Marsh, DT Earl Mitchell

 

2019 draft class

DE Nick Bosa (1.02), WR Deebo Samuel (2.36), WR Jalen Hurd (3.67), P Mitch Wishnowsky (4.110), OLB Dre Greenlaw (5.148), TE Kaden Smith, OT Justin Skule (6.183), CB Tim Harris (6.198)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Tevin Coleman
FB: Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Dante Pettis
WR: Deebo Samuel
TE: George Kittle
LT: Joe Staley
LG: Laken Tomlinson
C: Weston Richburg
RG: Mike Person
RT: Mike McGlinchey

 

Defense

DE: Nick Bosa
DT: DeForest Buckner
DT: Arik Armstead
DE: Dee Ford
OLB: Fred Warner
MLB: Kwon Alexander
OLB: Malcolm Smith
CB: Richard Sherman
CB: Jason Verrett
S: D.J. Reed
S: Jaquiski Tartt

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB C.J. Beathard, QB Nick Mullens, RB Jerick McKinnon, RB Matt Breida, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Marquise Goodwin, WR Trent Taylor, WR Jalen Hurd, WR Jordan Matthews, OT Shon Coleman, OT Justin Skule, G Josh Garnett, G Ben Garland, C Wesley Johnson, DL Solomon Thomas, DE Kentavius Street, DE Ronald Blair, DT D.J. Jones, DT Sheldon Day, OLB Mark Nzeocha, OLB Dre Greenlaw, MLB David Mayo, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Tarvarius Moore, CB Tim Harris, DB Jimmy Ward, DB K’Waun Williams, S Adrian Colbert, S Antone Exum

 

Biggest strength: Defensive line

General manager John Lynch clearly wanted to bolster the trenches this offseason, as even though the 49ers knew they would be getting a stud defensive lineman with the No. 2 overall pick (Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, or Quinnen Williams), it didn’t stop them from also acquiring Dee Ford from the Chiefs. Now, San Francisco has a dominant front four, and I still think Solomon Thomas can be a big-time contributor off the bench as an interior pass rusher.

 

Biggest weakness: Safety

The Niners fortunately have plenty of versatile options to play safety, but will any of them step up to be an impact defender? Jaquiski Tartt should be one of the starters, and I think D.J. Reed—a fifth-round pick last year—has the talent to take the other starting job despite being overlooked right now. Whoever ends up on the backend will be tasked with supporting a high-upside cornerback group led by Richard Sherman and newcomer Jason Verrett.

 

Position battle to watch: Running back

San Francisco has three starting-caliber running backs on their roster, so Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon (coming off a torn ACL), and “miniature Wolverine” Matt Breida (who plays through all sorts of injuries) will each make their case for playing time this summer. It’s possible that Kyle Shanahan finds a way to keep everyone involved, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see McKinnon or Breida traded if injuries hit another team in training camp.

 

One more thought

I honestly didn’t realize it until seeing all the pieces together on the page, but John Lynch has done a great job assembling versatile talent on both sides of the ball, and it will be up to the coaching staff to get the most out of it in 2019. You could argue that the team has a star-level player for every group on the roster: Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, Tevin Coleman at running back, George Kittle as a pass catcher, Joe Staley on the offensive line, multiple players on the defensive line, Kwon Alexander at linebacker, and Richard Sherman in the secondary.

 

Early over/under: 8 wins (via CBS Sports)

Over. The Niners probably need to get off to a strong start because of how challenging their December schedule is (@ BAL, @ NO, v ATL, v LAR, @ SEA), but the talent is there to reach 9-7 or 10-6 and push for a playoff spot. San Francisco should have the personnel to win both low-scoring games and shootouts.