The San Francisco 49ers Players in the Most Danger of Being Cut
Newsweek · C · trust 53/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Training camp is officially underway for several NFL teams while others will be easing into camp throughout the next week.
The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers kick off the 2026 preseason with their Hall of Fame Game clash on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC, and Week 1 of the preseason officially kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
As we count down the days until the start of the NFL regular season — which kicks off with a Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on “Sunday Night Football” on Sept. 9 — we continue to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams.
This week, we’re looking as the players most in danger of being cut during the preseason, and we’ve arrived at the San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver is one of San Francisco’s biggest question marks heading into training camp; however, it’s also a pretty deep position as well. Mike Evans is the team’s clear-cut WR1, and some order of Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Christian Kirk will fill out WRs 2-4, leaving Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, Colton Dowell, Junior Bergen, Wesley Grimes, Will Pauling, and Malik Turner to compete for what’s likely two roster spots.
Cowing is a favorite of the coaching staff, though injuries have derailed any momentum he’s tried to build. His added value as a returner will likely keep him in the mix. Watkins, the team’s fourth-round pick a season ago, is also talented yet struggled with injuries last year. If healthy, Watkins and Cowing are my picks for the final two spots.
Robinson is 31, and while he had a decent season last year (22 catches, 276 yards, one touchdown), he’s just not as fast or talented as some of the other WRs on San Francisco’s roster.
If there’s one thing you can count on in the NFL, it’s that the 49ers will have a plethora of defensive linemen on their roster — particularly defensive ends. Farmer is only 26, but he hasn’t played an NFL down since 2023, and it’s hard to see him beating out some of the other pass-rushers the team has.
Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are the headliners of the group, but Keion White, rookie third-round pick Romello Height, and Cameron Sample all figure to work into San Francisco’s rotation. Plus the team could also add another rusher like Joey Bosa or Jadeveon Clowney through free agency.
Farmer will presumably fall victim to a numbers game, especially considering he would have to also hold off Indiana rookie Mikail Kamara and veteran William Bradley-King, neither of whom are guaranteed a roster spot.
It’s hard to believe that Eli Apple is only 30. He’s one of those players it feels like has been playing for nearly two decades. But just because he’s a veteran, that doesn’t guarantee Apple a spot in San Francisco’s secondary.
Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Nate Hobbs, and Jack Jones figure to be the top five CBs on the roster, leaving Apple to battle it out with Siran Neal, Darrell Luter Jr., rookie fourth-rounder Ephesians Prysock, Derrick Canteen, and Jakob Robinson for what’s presumably just two spots.
Lutter Jr. has three years in San Francisco’s system, and Neal is a well-rounded veteran that the 49ers know what they’re getting with. I just don’t see Apple taking up a roster spot as an eighth cornerback.
Read the original at Newsweek →
Open in TruthVane →