SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ first edition of a 90-man roster is set, and it bears little resemblance to last season’s mangled compilation.
Then again, Kyle Shanahan’s offense alone looks familiar. Perhaps too familiar.
Their 11-man draft class is top-heavy with defensive reinforcements. Saturday’s final rounds brought just two offensive players expected to factor as rookies: wide receiver Jordan Watkins (fourth round) and running back Jordan James (fifth round).
The seventh round delivered three offensive players who are projects, even if Brock Purdy taught us not to overlook last-round fliers. That includes a quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, recovering from January ACL surgery; an offensive lineman who is not a tackle, all due respect to Iowa guard Connor Colby; and, a return specialist more so than a receiver in Junior Bergen, Montana’s magic man.
Here is a look at how the offense initially appears on the depth chart:
QUARTERBACK
Brock Purdy: 2022 7th round
Mac Jones: 2025 free agent
Tanner Mordecai: 2024 free agent
Kurtis Rourke: 2025 seventh round
Key departures: Brandon Allen (Colts), Josh Dobbs (Patriots)
Analysis: Purdy’s contract extension remains in the works while he’s participating in the offseason program alongside his new backup, Jones. The 49ers have a quarterback from the 2021 first round and it ain’t No. 3 selection Trey Lance, but rather Mac Jones, the Patriots’ pick at No. 15 who’s already on his third team after being Jacksonville’s 2024 backup. Mordecai’s 2024 practice squad stint has him entrenched in the system, and that allowed the 49ers to select Kurtis Rourke as a seventh-round luxury pick even though his ACL recovery may not be cleared before camp. Keep in mind that Brian Griese is out after three seasons as quarterback coach; Mick Lombardi is in that role, with Klay Kubiak the new offensive coordinator under Shanahan’s play-calling lead.
RUNNING BACK
Christian McCaffrey: 2022 trade
Kyle Juszczyk (FB): 2017/25 free agent
Isaac Guerendo: 2024 4th round
Jordan James: 2025 3rd round
Patrick Taylor Jr.: 2024 free agent
Israel Abanikanda: 2024 waivers
Corey Kiner: 2025 free agent
Key departures: Jordan Mason (Vikings), Elijah Mitchell (Chiefs)
Analysis: The 49ers’ offense is predicated on McCaffrey’s health, and he said he’s working without restrictions this offseason program. With Mason traded to Minnesota, Guerendo is ramping up for the RB2 role. Fifth-round pick Jordan James won over the 49ers’ brass at Oregon’s pro day with his surprising burst and pass-catching ability, to say nothing of a McCaffrey-esque nose for the goal line that we’ll examine later. Kiner is in line to join a phenomenal string of undrafted running backs in Shanahan’ 49ers era (see: Matt Breida, Jeff Wilson Jr., Jordan Mason); Kiner was a true freshman in 2021 at LSU before he transferred to Cincinnati, his hometown.
WIDE RECEIVER
Brandon Aiyuk: 2020 1st round
Jauan Jennings: 2020 7th round
Ricky Pearsall: 2024 1st round
Demarcus Robinson: 2025 free agent
Jacob Cowing: 2024 4th round
Jordan Watkins: 2025 4th round
Trent Taylor: 2024 free agent
Terique Owens: 2024 free agent
Russell Gage Jr.: 2024 free agent
Isaiah Hodgins: 2025 free agent
Junior Bergen: 2025 7th round
Isaiah Neyor: 2025 free agent
Key departures: Deebo Samuel (Commanders), Chris Conley (free agent)
Analysis: Shanahan loves Watkins’ 4.37-second speed in the 40, not to mention his route running and hands. “B.A. might not be ready right away, we’ll see how it goes, but we wanted to add a receiver in this draft and glad it’s him,” Shanahan said of Watkins. Four months from now, the 49ers could open the season without Aiyuk as well as Robinson if he gets suspended for January’s DUI charge. Jennings, after a career-high 975 yards last season, is entering his contract’s final season, for those keeping score of the 49ers’ handful of extension issues. Pearsall and Cowing have been hard at work as they look to make the vital bounce between first and second seasons.
TIGHT END
George Kittle, 2017 5th round
Luke Farrell, 2025 free agent
Brayden Willis, 2023 7th round
Jake Tonges, 2023 free agent
Mason Pline, 2024 free agent
Key departures: Eric Saubert (Seahawks)
Analysis: The 49ers ignored this position for a second straight draft, but only after making Farrell this March’s priciest free agent (three years, $16 million). Kittle showed up Friday at the voluntary offseason program, and the 49ers still owe him a contract extension over $20 million annually. Pline remains an intriguing project.
OFFENSIVE LINE
LT Trent Williams: 2020 trade
LG Ben Bartch: 2023 free agent
C Jake Brendel: 2020 free agent
RG Dominick Puni: 2024 3rd round
RT Colton McKivitz: 2020 5th round
G/C Nick Zakelj: 2022 6th round
G/C Matt Hennessy: 2024 free agent
G/T Spencer Burford: 2022 4th round
T Austen Pleasants: 2024 free agent
G Connor Colby: 2025 7th round
C Drake Nugent: 2024 free agent
G Sebastian Gutierrez: 2023 free agent
G Zack Johnson: 2024 free agent
G Jalen McKenzie: 2025 free agent
G Drew Moss: 2025 free agent
Key departures: LG Aaron Banks (Packers), T Jaylon Moore (Chiefs)
Analysis: The 49ers brought no one in to replace Jaylon Moore after their No. 3 (swing) tackle struck it rich from Kansas City, meaning that role falls on either Pleasants or Burford, the latter of whom started a conversion from guard late last season. Competition at left guard should be strong between Bartch, Zakelj, Hennessy and Colby, a seventh-round pick. Brendel’s started every game since 2022, and Hennessy might be his biggest competition, over Nugent and Zakelj.
General manager John Lynch on why the 49ers didn’t net more offensive linemen, especially a much-needed tackle: “There were a number of times that we were interested in adding and it just didn’t come our way. And you’ve got to stay true to where you have guys graded, not take guys just to take them but to take guys that you’re interested in at that point. And it just never really aligned.”
