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Y2's Opening of Training Camp Roster Power Rankings


y2lamanaki

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I did this a few seasons ago, and while it was difficult to keep up through the preseason, I hope to do so again this year and update this after each game. I might even keep it through the season if I feel motivated enough. Anyway…

The rankings here are based on a combination of a number of different factors – their role currently on the team, their expected role on the team, their predicted future with the team, their chances of starting, their chances of playing, their chances of making the 53-man roster, and their chances of making the practice squad. This early, there is not a lot of playing time to work from, so this is how I have chosen to rank the players.

1) DeForrest Buckner, DT                

Buckner earns his spot at the top of my initial power rankings by being something of a total package – he’s young, he’s got a promising future, a great defensive lineman (Michael Bennett) has given him praise as a potential future Defensive Player of the Year, and he’s already shown that he is very capable. On a pretty talent-deprived team, that’s going to put him at the top.

2) Solomon Thomas, DT

As our #3 overall pick, Solomon Thomas is obviously not going anywhere. He’s already planned to be a starting component of what should be a stellar defensive line, and he’s forced another promising former first round pick (Arik Armstead) to a new position. That should say plenty about the expectations for Thomas in year one.

3) Reuben Foster, LB

The other first round pick on the team is also not going anywhere. He was said to be #3 on the 49ers Bib Board (just after Thomas), so the team also has high expectations for Foster. Early returns are promising – that “troubling” shoulder was given the all clear before camp and Foster responded with a much talked about INT in his first practice.

4) Joe Staley, LT

Some may argue Staley should be higher, and they would be able to make a great point of course. He’s been an excellent player at one of the most important positions on the team for us, and he’s pretty much the only set starter on the offensive line entering the year. I lowered him for one reason only – on a clearly rebuilding team in a new regime’s first year, Staley might be a surprise trade at some point for a team in bad need of an experienced left tackle. If Staley is on the roster the entire year, he’ll likely fit in higher. I’m not predicting a trade by any means, but that slight possibility of a realistic one had me lower him.

5) Brian Hoyer, QB

There are absolutely zero doubts that Hoyer is the starting QB for as long as he is healthy in 2017, and that starter security is enough for me to place Hoyer high up the board. Combining the stats of his most recent 17 games reveals a very competent QB who has played very well. However, at 32, he likely is what he is. Still, he’ll be given a great shot to show what he can do in this league and will obviously be the key to the offense in Shanahan year one.

6) Pierre Garcon, WR

The only WR with zero questions on the team. Garcon will undoubtedly be the #1 WR and the #1 target in the passing game. He had his best ever season with Mike Shanahan, and had his only other 1,000 yard receiving season last year. So, expectations for him as a WR on this team can be reasonably high.

7) NaVorro Bowman, LB

On talent and history alone, many will likely argue Bowman deserves to be higher. I definitely agree. But Bowman has two things working against him that caused me to lower his standing a bit on this initial list – he’s returning from his second major injury in a short time period (although this one is supposedly been a much easier rehab for him), and we just drafted his assumed eventual replacement in Foster. Plus, with Malcolm Smith getting a sizable contract, it would not come as a complete shock to see Bowman playing elsewhere in 2017 – that is, if Bowman has some trade value still. If he’s playing on the team in 2017, he’ll likely end up higher.

8) Rashard Robinson, CB

The only cornerback with upside and the only one who is an unquestioned starter entering year two. Robinson has the chance to be really special if he can stay on the field for an entire game at a time. His solid hold on an important roster spot, his youth, and his promise have him ahead of some other solid defensive backs on the team in this initial ranking.

9) Kyle Juszczyk, FB

Given his contract, it’s reasonable to expect some major role for Juszczyk in Shanahan’s offense. I heard one NFL writer compare his predicted role as a cross between Darren Sproles and a tank. It will be interesting to see what sort of production he ends up putting out, but it’s key it’s expected to be sizable, and he has no competition.

10) George Kittle, TE

This might be a little overboard for Kittle, but by all accounts, he has impressed throughout spring and had another good practice on the first day of training camp. Kittle is also the only rookie who received any first team snaps yesterday, so that should be some sign that he’s going to have a large role on this offense. Because of that and his almost assurance of a roster spot, he’s ranked in the top 10 to start.

11) Eric Reid, SS
12) Jimmie Ward, FS


Next up are our two safeties. If both are healthy, there really will not be much question about who will be starting at the spots. It will be these two. However, health – especially with Ward – seems to always be a concern. Plus, each are playing new positions for the first time, and while both seem to be better fits for their skillsets, that comes with some inherent questions as they each enter their last guaranteed year on the roster (while Ward’s 5th year option was picked up, it can be rescinded). I ranked Reid over Ward because of Ward’s early injury.

13) Arik Armstead, DL
14) Elvis Dumervil, DL/LB


These two are in a presumed battle for the LEO role, although it’s reasonable to expect they will both have their playing time in various sets. A slimmed down Arik Armstead looks to be focused on that spot more than the big end position, though he’d likely move inside on passing downs (if he’s playing snaps over Buckner and Thomas). Dumervil will certainly be the pass rushing specialist on the team, and even despite a rocky 2016, there is no real competition here pushing him out of a roster spot (for now). With that I’ll put them both here, and list Armstead higher for the sole reason that he’s more likely to have a longer future with the team.

15) Marquise Goodwin, WR

One of the players I am most excited about on the team in 2016, Goodwin appears to have little competition for the 2nd WR spot (Kerley and Taylor appear to be the next biggest contenders for playing time, and both are slot receivers). Goodwin was mostly used as the straight line deep threat, but reportedly has more moves than that. He is my prediction for the offensive breakout player in 2017.

16) Earl Mitchell, NT

There does not seem to be much question that Mitchell will be the starting NT, and that he was brought in for that role. However, it’s reasonable to question how many snaps our NT will be playing, and Mitchell is clearly the understandably forgotten player on our stacked defensive line (the only position group on the team for which we can say that unequivocally).

17) Malcolm Smith, LB

There is no question that Smith has a roster spot in 2017, and he might be the favorite to start in 2017 at the WLB spot. However, that grasp on the starting role would appear to be tenuous if he’s going to be competing with Foster for it. If Foster kicks inside, and Bowman is either gone or kicking to the SLB spot, Smith would probably rank a little higher. Because of the uncertainty in his role, he’s got to be knocked a few spots.

18) Ahkello Witherspoon, CB

Witherspoon is the second CB appearing on this ranking, but that is not a prediction that he will be the second starter. Witherspoon gets a higher ranking by virtue of being a 3rd round pick this year that does not have to worry much about ‘earning’ a roster spot. He’ll be on the team in 2017. Because the competition for that spot does not include any more promising players or veterans with a ton of experience, Witherspoon might well win that 2nd CB job sooner than later. If he can prove he can tackle willingly in the preseason, that might be enough.

19) Carlos Hyde, RB

This might irk a few, but to understand this ranking, all you have to do is look at the 18 players in front of him and tell me which one is less likely to be with the team in 2017 than Hyde. That question mark combined with an even more uncertain 2018 is what caused me to place him lower in the initial rankings. If Hyde is with the team in 2017, I’d expect he’ll find a spot in the top 10, if not the top 5. This offense gets its most out of running backs, and I feel like Hyde is talented enough to keep that a truth. The other question with Hyde is more when rather than if he’ll miss time due to injury.

20) Trent Brown, RT

Most of the remaining starting jobs on the team that have yet to appear in these rankings are offensive linemen, and of those remaining battles at the 4 spots on the line, Brown appears to be the one with the strongest hold on his spot in the starting lineup and his position. He’s mainly in competition with Garry Gilliam, but that should be a battle Brown wins. If he can live up to the praise Von Miller heaped on him last year, he’ll rise up these rankings pretty quickly.

21) Ahmad Brooks, LB

The last defensive player with a hold on his starting spot, Brooks also seems like the current weakest link (ignoring the uncertain 2nd CB spot). Brooks has been a steady producer for years, and he always seems like a guy we want to replace but yet never seem to be able to do so. That looks like it will be the case for 2017 as well, but with his age and some young linebackers in the pipeline that might need to see the field, Brooks might be nearing the end of his 49ers tenure. Because of that, I dropped him down the rankings a bit.

22) Robbie Gould, K

We might see a kicker a lot (we’ll need points somehow), and Gould is unquestionably that guy. Not much else to say here.

23) Jeremy Kerley, WR

The presumed “starter” in the slot (should we ever start a game with 3 WRs), Kerley was one of few free agents brought back from the roster last year. He had a surprisingly productive 2016, and in a better offense that might better suit his skills, he’ll have a chance to show he’s a real playmaker in the league. Still, given the WRs in front of him, I’d expect him to produce more like the 3rd best WR and that is enough to lower him a bit.

24) Joe Williams, RB

The first player in the rankings who is not presumed to be in a competition for a starting role, Joe Williams is still expected to see a lot of playing time this year as the 2nd RB in the committee, and the promise that caused Shanahan to feel he could not sleep without drafting him suggests big things could be in Williams’ future.

25) Brandon Fusco, G
26) Daniel Kilgore, C/G
27) Jeremy Zuttah, C/G


This is my current guess for the remaining three starters on the offensive line, but that uncertainty ended up forcing me to group them all together. One of the three will almost certainly be one of the three starters, but it is feasible that only one is. Fusco has seemed to be the guy most often playing with the first team thus far, so I listed him first. Kilgore also seems to have a hold on that first team center role for now, but I would imagine Zuttah will be asked to start somewhere. However, Zuttah has been starting with the 2nd team line and moving into 1st team reps while Kilgore slides over (still with the 1st team) thus far. Hard to gauge what is going on this early, so – a lump grouping.

28) Bradley Pinion, P

The last guy on the team who does not have to win his job. Pinion is the only punter on the roster (the camp leg is a kicker), so there are zero concerns about Pinion losing his job. Year 3 is also the year when some punters finally find their leg strength. I see this as a big year for Pinion given that he was a drafted punter with high expectations. I would expect to see a leap from him, but his past production is what had me drop him down the list. What places him this high? We’ll be punting a lot.

29) Jaquiski Tartt, S

Tartt is one of the key reserves on the team, and is the obvious choice as the team’s third safety. In fact, it might not be out of the question for the team to keep only 3 designated safeties on the final roster (with a guy like Johnson possibly being versatile enough to fill in as an emergency 4th). It was clear this was the case when Ward was forced to miss the beginning of camp and Tartt hopped right in with the first team for the first time at FS.

30) Joshua Garnett, G

Given how overall poorly he played in 2016, I would have been tempted to place Garnett lower in these rankings. However, Garnett is the surprise player routinely getting snaps with the current 1st team offensive line. It’s too early in camp to put a lot of stock into that, but if he’s in serious competition for a starting role, then his roster spot is likely safe. After all, even though he was overdrafted last year, he was still expected to be a 2nd/3rd round interior linemen. There’s no question he has talent.

31) Keith Reaser, CB
32) K’Waun Williams, CB
33) Dontae Johnson, CB


Another grouping of guys that are in competition for cornerback roles. Reaser and Johnson figure in prominently into the competition for the 2nd cornerback spot, whereas Williams is more the favorite to start as the nickel cornerback and has the backing of his defensive backs coach. I don’t imagine a cutdown to 53 without Reaser, whereas I can see scenarios without Johnson or Williams. So – with that in mind – I’ve put them in the above order.

34) Garry Gilliam, T

Gilliam is the last guy in the power rankings that I see putting up any sort of serious competition for a starting spot on the team (this early in camp), so he gets this ranking. Plus, he’s almost assured a roster spot given that the team will need a backup swing tackle and his main competition for that role is John Theus and an out-of-position Zane Beadles. That gives Gilliam a stranglehold on a roster spot.

35) Trent Taylor, WR

Speaking of strangleholds on a roster spot, there is little doubt that Taylor will make the team, and that’s what has him here. It might be too early for him to take over Kerley as the starting slot receiver, and because of that, he’d be at most a 4th WR contributor which likely will not produce much in 2017. He has the backing of the coaching staff, though, so it’s not unreasonable to see him move up the board throughout the season.

36) Matt Barkley, QB

The coaching staff wants to bring Beathard along slowly, and Beathard has done nothing thus far to suggest that he’ll overtake Barkley for the #2 QB job, so this is really the last player on the team that I feel has a 100% secure spot on the roster. If Barkley is playing at any point in 2017, we’re in trouble (or tanking).

37) Logan Paulsen, TE

I feel 95% confident that Paulsen has a roster spot locked up as he was the blocking tight end with familiarity with Shanahan, and that gives him a leg up over the guys from last year. However, that small bit of uncertainty is what put him underneath Barkley. While unlikely, Logan Paulsen getting cut would not be problematic or surprising, and likely means two of McDonald, Celek, and Hikutini had outstanding camps.

38) Quinton Dial, NT

Dial is a tough call going into 2017. He’s been one of Baalke’s better picks (which is not saying a whole lot), and has played pretty well at times. Given that a guy like Tony Jerrod-Eddie used to be this backup swing defensive lineman shows how much more depth this team has. However, there are just so many players at this spot on the team that Dial could end up anywhere from having a major rotational role to not having a job. If I had to pick a guy that could very easily be the favorite to be traded, it might be Dial. He likely has some value for a team needing an experienced vet on the defensive line due to injury, and his price would be very reasonable. If he’s on the team, he’ll have a role. That’s what has him ranked so highly.

39) Eli Harold, LB

Similar to Dial, Harold now finds himself in an oddly deep position group compared with the two most recent seasons, and that puts his roster spot in question. However, if he’s on the team, he’ll likely see a lot of playing time, especially on special teams. Harold has been getting some first team snaps at times, so I think he’s a fairly safe bet to make the roster in 2017. Though, I don’t think we’re counting on him to be a pass-rusher anymore.

40) Dekoda Watson, LB

Watson ranks this high as the special teams ace most coaches love on their roster, and while he might not see much action on defense, that gives him a pretty good shot at making the final roster and playing a specialized role.

41) Kyle Nelson, LS

Trying not to overthink this too much – I consider longsnapper to be an important position and Nelson has been very good at his job. I don’t know the importance that Shanahan places on it and whether or not he’ll even try other guys at the spot to have them double up on roles. I would rather not, but as such Nelson ranks here. Otherwise, he’d be up closer to Pinion and Gould.

42) Aaron Lynch, LB
43) Pita Taumoepenu, LB


These guys might both be in competition with each other for a roster spot, let alone a significant pass-rushing role. I think they could both find spots, especially if Lynch sees time at the SLB spot to try and show versatility. Talent is not in question for Lynch, but he clearly does not have a solid hold on his spot at this point. Some might want to rank Taumoepenu a bit higher, but he was only a sixth round pick this year. A lack of pass-rushers is the only reason I think we keep multiple on the roster to plug in and play.

44) Tim Hightower, RB

I have him ranked this high up front, though his hold on a roster spot seems tenuous to me. He’s got the veteran presence that could help some of the younger backs and he’s clearly been sought after by the current regime. If any of the younger players in the competition (Breida or Bibbs) outshine him, I think he's an easy cut. For now, I’ll keep him here. If he makes the 53-man roster, I think he’ll actually climb quite a bit.

45) Vance McDonald, TE

McDonald has this ranking as the benefit of the doubt, because in order to make the roster, all he has to do is outshine the guys he’s started over the last two years and an undrafted rookie. This should not be a problem for a former 2nd round pick. Plus, his contract is slightly easier to escape from after this year, so that could be a small factor. If a team wants him, we’ll likely trade him.

46) Aldrick Robinson, WR

Robinson seems to be the favorite to win the 5th WR spot (which is not to say he’ll receive the 5th most playing time, just that the other 4 WRs are more secure), but he is the first WR where I would not call his spot on the roster 100% secured. Nobody will lose sleep over cutting Aldrick Robinson, and if any of the other WRs show any sort of skills, they can definitely beat him out. However, it might be just as likely that we keep six WRs, and Robinson would certainly be in the top six.

47) Tank Carradine, DL
48) Chris Jones, DL
49) DJ Jones, DL


A three player grouping that I am unsure how to evaluate right now. I could see one, two, or all three making the roster, and any combination thereof. A lot of it will depend on what happens with other players, or even the other guys in this grouping. I put Carradine first as the former 2nd round pick who received the first team reps at the RDE spot while Solomon Thomas was signing his contract. From there, I’ve heard Chris Jones praised by the coaching staff, and he was one of the few free agents brought back from last year. DJ Jones does have the status of being the only guy of these three drafted by this regime. If he shows promise, that likely gives him an edge. However, DJ Jones also has PS eligibility and he might find himself there.

50) Ray-Ray Armstrong, LB

Had we not drafted Foster, I would rank Armstrong considerably higher. But having Smith and Foster ahead of him really hurts his chances of landing a roster spot despite some solid play at the start of last year before the injury. That injury also dims his chances a bit. Plus, at this point, there are just a LOT of linebackers that made the roster according to these power rankings.

51) Zane Beadles, OL

We need an 8th offensive lineman. I’m going with the former Pro Bowler with experience at all spots along the line (in an emergency) over Barnes (only a poor center) and Theus (only a poor tackle). Beadles might even factor into the competition for starting spots along the line, but thus far I’m not seeing his name with the first stringers.

52) Will Redmond, CB

In a choice of 6th CB vs. 4th S to be the 9th defensive back on the roster, I picked Redmond for his being a third round pick last season, but he’s clearly going to have to play well in the preseason. Let’s be real, a third round pick sounds good, but given that Baalke was the one choosing him, that doesn’t carry a whole lot of weight (Eli Harold is his only other former third round pick of his still with the team since the 2011 draft where he was solely in control).

53) CJ Beathard, QB

Beathard will be on the roster as a 3rd round pick of this regime, and at this point he looks nothing more than the guy inactive every week as the 3rd QB. So that’s why he gets spot #53.

54) Vinnie Sunseri, S

Sunseri seems to be the current fourth safety, but it is hard to say how much grasp he even has on that role let alone a roster spot. Still, this early in camp, with a need for that 9th DB, I figured it was mostly a two person competition, and Sunseri does have a bit of experience/that desired special teams niche. Left him off the roster in these rankings, but he’s definitely in competition for one of those final roster spots.

55) Cole Hikutini, TE
56) Matt Breida, RB
57) Aaron Burbridge, WR
58) Lorenzo Jerome, DB
59) Adrian Colbert, CB
60) Jimmie Gilbert, LB


This is my list of guys who could unsurprisingly win roster spots with solid camps and play significant roles, or could very well be favorites for the practice squad. Hikutini figures to have the best chance as an undrafted rookie to make the roster given that his competition is poor for that 3rd TE spot, and the team has already tried to trade his biggest competition. Breida apparently impressed with the pads off, but that’s a whole lot different than with pads on. Still, he’s the only RB on the roster currently with practice squad eligibility (aside from Williams, who won’t test the waiver wire) if he doesn’t make the squad. Burbridge is a willing special teams participant, and is one of the ‘larger’ WRs on the team, which could work in his favour for a 6th WR spot. Jerome could be the 4th safety with a solid camp and has won rave reviews with great range and a knack for finding the football in the air. Colbert has a bit tougher competition as he figures to be anywhere from the 6th to 8th CB on the roster, though as a draft pick, he has to be considered a PS favorite. Gilbert is one of the last undrafted rookies with a real chance to win a roster spot with a solid showing, as the team is pretty baren when it comes to pass-rushers, especially ones who might be around long-term.

61) Kapri Bibbs, RB

I think Bibbs has a better shot at winning a roster spot than others given how he was targeted during draft weekend by the regime. Still, he might be redundant with Williams and Breida (should both make the roster), and I have heard little about him this spring. For now, I place him here on the outside looking in, but that could change in the preseason.

62) Will Davis, CB
63) Brock Coyle, LB
64) Tim Barnes, C


A series of vets who miss the roster cut due to depth at the position, but figure to factor somewhat into competitions in training camp. Davis would have the likeliest chance of these three to leapfrog his competition and earn a roster spot due to the battle being wide open. I put Coyle second as I figure while the linebacking corps is deep with players, Coyle being brought in by this regime might give him the advantage in close competitions with players from the old regime (Harold, Lynch). Unless Barnes leapfrogs Kilgore or Zuttah, I see no reason to keep him as the third center.

65) Ronald Blair, DL

Blair would have practice squad eligibility, but I have to imagine he would get picked up off waivers by another team before sniffing that squad, which is why I placed him a little bit lower. Blair is a victim of feeling out of place in this scheme, a ton of depth at his position, and being a Baalke pick. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him leapfrog a number of guys (the Carradine/Jones/Jones trio above would be the goal), but I currently have him missing the squad and not factoring in for the future.

66) Bruce Ellington, WR
67) DeAndre Smelter, WR
68) BJ Johnson III, WR
69) DeAndre Carter, WR
70) Victor Bolden, Jr., WR


No idea what to do with these WRs, so they’ll appear all at once. Ellington needs to show a lot of talent and stay healthy (a tough task for him) to even have a shot, but even then it’s hard to see the team keeping 3 slot receivers. He might need to win the KR job to have a chance. Smelter seemed to play well according to most accounts in his first training camp practice here, and is one of the bigger WRs on the squad. Johnson III had a lot of buzz over the spring, but suffered an injury in his first practice and might miss some valuable time. Carter has spent time on practice squads in the NFL so comes with a little bit of NFL exposure, but he’s at the crowded slot WR spot. I would not consider Bolden to have much of a chance, but I have included him in this grouping solely because of the fact that he’s getting some KR reps and might factor into that competition. Smelter, Johnson, Carter, and Bolden all would have practice squad eligibility (to go along with Burbridge above), and the team will likely carry two receivers on that squad.

71) Garrett Celek, TE

Opening camp, Celek is the last guy to whom I give any shot at making the 53-man roster, but it is definitely a longshot. I think it would require McDonald to be traded and Hikutini to have a quiet preseason.

72) Noble Nwachukwu, DL

Assuming DJ Jones makes the roster, Nwachukwu earns this spot almost by default as a guy who will make the practice squad (unless Blair gets cut and goes unclaimed). I liked him an awful lot at West Virginia, so I’m excited to see how he does in the preseason. However, he has no real roster shot.

73) John Theus, T

Theus is technically in competition with Garry Gilliam to be the swing tackle, but I have yet to see anything from him that leads me to believe he will win that job (and I was pretty high on Theus – had him rated as a late 2nd rounder last year). Because I do not see him beating out Gilliam, he’ll end up being one of the cuts. As a former 5th round pick at tackle with roster experience, he might get picked up off waivers. If he doesn’t, I think he’d be a favorite to win a practice squad spot as the team will likely will keep at least two offensive linemen there.

74) Norman Price, OL

Price spent all of last year on our practice squad, so he is the first of the young practice squad contenders on the list by virtue of being the only one with whom I am familiar.

75) Nick Mullens, QB

I do not know much about Mullens, but I know he has no chance at the 53-man squad, and as the only remaining QB on the roster, he would be a favorite to win the practice squad QB role.

76) Chanceller James, S

Barrows seems to think James has caught the eyes of evaluators and might stick around if he keeps progressing. I do not think the team will keep more than two defensive backs on the practice squad, and currently I have both of those spots occupied (Jerome and Colbert). If one makes the roster, James might have a better chance at sticking around.

77) Prince Charles Iworah, CB
78) Raheem Mostert, RB
79) Don Jones, S
80) Blake Bell, TE


A series of “vets”. Iworah might factor into the CB spot, but I have to believe he’s way behind everyone else at this spot at this point. He does have practice squad eligibility, but I do not believe he would be a favorite over Colbert or Jerome, and seems to also behind James in praise. So, with that, I have him ranked pretty low as I do not believe his time with the 49ers will last past this year. Mostert and Jones have no practice squad eligibility and are buried on the depth chart. Bell is here on the list out of veteran courtesy at this point. He appears to be gone.

81) John Flynn, OL
82) Andrew Lauderdale, OL
83) Richard Levy, OL
84) Erik Magnuson, OL
85) Darrell Williams, Jr., OL


The five 3rd string offensive linemen. Two rookies will make the practice squad, and it could reasonably be any of these five. No idea how any look at this point in time.

86) Donavin Newsom, LB
87) Zach Franklin, CB
88) Kendrick Bourne, WR

 

Three rookies buried on the practice squad depth chart. Have not heard any real praise on any of them at this point.

89) Tyler McCloskey, FB

I feel fairly confident that the team will not carry multiple fullbacks and has no use for a practice squad fullback with Juszczyk on the team.

90) Nick Rose, K

The easiest guy to rank. Rose will not be on the 53-man roster, likely even with some catastrophic injury to Robbie Gould (as the team would likely find a vet on the free agent market), and the team will not have a need for a leg on the practice squad.

There you go. Let me know your differences!

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Great stuff as usual y2. 

I just quickly skimmed through the list, but it sucks to see Blair that low. Not that it's wrong to have him there but I think we have something there. He's facing an up hill battle at DE, but it very well may come down to him or Carradine. 

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Not sure I understand the order of first 20ish selections. I'm very interested in the rest of the list however. I guess seeing Hoyer at #4, Foster at #3, and Bowman at #7 just confuse me as to what it means to be ranked higher if that makes sense...Anyways the the rest of the 2/3 of the list is really solid and I liked how you grouped the positions on the Oline, WR, DL, LBs. 

Some names I'd differ on a little include: 

Dekoda Watson #40 - him as a special teams ace ranked that high is a stretch when we haven't seen what he can do for us on our ST units yet. Sure he's had some success on ST's but if he was an "ace" he wouldnt have bounced around as much as he has. Plus there are a handful of guys who if just asked to fill that role could maybe surpass him. I think he's on the fringe to make the roster if Colbert, Jerome, Gilbert, Coyle, or Armstrong make impact plays on ST units too. 

Sunseri #54 - I think there's little chance he makes the roster. Tartt taking over at FS for Ward with Lorenzo Jerome working with the 2's already tell aren't a good sign. He's not an NFL caliber player i'd rank him in the #70's, where his only hope to make it is injury to Ward remains severe. 

Aaron Burnridge #57 - I was down on this pick and him as a rookie so i'm a little biased but I dont think he's ahead of the group you had at 66-70

Garret Celek #71 - I think Celek has a decent shot at making the roster if we get rid of Vance. He's on a very team friendly deal (2.75m/yr thru 2019) and is capable as a #3 TE. I'd have him in the #50-#60 range. 

Overall a great list, I'm looking forward to keeping an eye on specific battles now base on this ranking. I cant wait to see who moves up and down as the preseason starts. Good stuff Y2

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10 minutes ago, 48 1/2ers said:

Not sure I understand the order of first 20ish selections. I'm very interested in the rest of the list however. I guess seeing Hoyer at #4, Foster at #3, and Bowman at #7 just confuse me as to what it means to be ranked higher if that makes sense...Anyways the the rest of the 2/3 of the list is really solid and I liked how you grouped the positions on the Oline, WR, DL, LBs. 

 

The main thing lowering Bowman at the moment is his injury recovery and the fact that his eventual "replacement" was just drafted (Foster). Because of those uncertainties, I dropped him down a bit in my training camp opening rankings. This is just to give a base list. I'll feel better after the first preseason game. Hoyer being so high is due to the fact that he'll be playing the most important position on the team (QB) and will face no competition for that spot. So his security keeps him high on the initial list.

Fair points on the other guys. I think you're underestimating Sunseri's chances quite a bit, though. He's been talked up by a few of the beat writers as a guy that can play at either safety spot and has special teams experience, which is what you want in your backup safety. Granted, I also had him miss based on this, but I think he has a far better chance than the 70s. He's also working with the 2s.

 

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5 minutes ago, 48 1/2ers said:

I dont think Bow is too low I just wonder the uniform reasoning behind those guys. 

Think of it as a combination of their current role with the team and their ability to hold and keep it. So - QB being more important keeps Hoyer higher, but maybe not higher than the Buckner/Thomas/Foster trio, which we can anticipate to be cornerstones on the defense for as much as a decade. However, Hoyer facing no competition - stays high. As you get lower, there become more questions. 

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