The San Francisco 49ers open up their 2018 OTAs on Monday, which takes us into phase three of the offseason workout program. That will include three weeks of OTAs and minicamp, followed by a month and a half of downtime until training camp.
The players have been working with coaches on the field in phase two, including all offense or all defense drills. In OTAs, they can conduct team offense vs. team defense drills. There is no live contact, but it is a step forward in assessing position competitions and who is moving along at what pace.
With that in mind, I thought I would put together my first 53-man roster projection of the offseason. The team has 90 players on the roster, and while we could see more transactions over the next month, we more or less know who is competing for what at this point.
In this projection, I have listed Reuben Foster as suspended. Even if the domestic violence and criminal threat charges are dropped, there is still the gun charge and his Alabama marijuana arrest. I think we see him get somewhere between a one- and four-game suspension. The NFL can be inconsistent with its punishments, thus the wide range. But I think we see him suspended initially.
Here’s what I’ve got so far, with plenty of room for change in this group. I’ve also included last four on and first four off.
QB (2): Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard
RB (4): Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Joe Williams
FB (1): Kyle Juszczyk
WR (6): Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis, Kendrick Bourne, Richie James
TE (3): George Kittle, Garrett Celek, Cole Hikutini
OT (3): Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, Garry Gilliam
OG (3): Joshua Garnett, Laken Tomlinson, Erik Magnuson
C (2): Weston Richburg, Mike Person
DL (9): DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead, Cassius Marsh, Earl Mitchell, D.J. Jones, Sheldon Day, Ronald Blair, Jerry Attaochu
LB (7): Malcolm Smith, Eli Harold, Fred Warner, Dekoda Watson, Korey Toomer, Brock Coyle, Pita Taumoepenu
CB (6): Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jimmie Ward, Tarvarius Moore, K’Waun Williams, D.J. Reed
S (4): Jaquiski Tartt, Adrian Colbert, Marcell Harris, Chanceller James
K (1): Robbie Gould
P (1): Bradley Pinion
LS (1): Kyle Nelson
Suspended: Reuben Foster
NFI: Kentavius Street
Last four on: Chanceller James, Richie James, Mike Person, Cole Hikutini
First four off: Jonathan Cooper, Aldrick Robinson, Jullian Taylor, Greg Mabin