The San Francisco 49ers got some of their tough decisions out of the way early this offseason. That doesn’t mean the tough decisions are over.
With a roster currently in flux, the 49ers have a handful of openings for players to break through who have yet to do so in their careers. Those opportunities are significant, but they also present something of a do-or-die scenario for some players.
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We highlighted six 49ers who are entering make-or-break seasons where their roster spot or their long-term role with the team is up in the air:
DE Robert Beal Jr.
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Last season put the writing on the wall for Beal. The 49ers badly needed pass rush help and the 2023 fifth-round pick was a no-show in 14 games. For his career, Beal has played 203 total snaps and 93 pass rush snaps. He’s converted those pass rush snaps into only five pressures and one sack according to Pro Football Focus. Beal did manage five run stops in 88 run snaps last season, but he’ll need to dramatically improve as a pass rusher to keep his spot on the roster.
WR Jacob Cowing
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It’s unusual for a second-year player to enter make-or-break territory, but Cowing’s lack of playing time and production last season as a rookie is a significant red flag. There were opportunities for Cowing to really contribute after injuries to Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk. He managed to play only 106 total offensive snaps, 50 of which came in the regular season finale. Cowing caught four of his six targets for 80 yards and primarily contributed on special teams. The door is open for the speedy fourth-round pick from the University of Arizona to make an impact. If he can’t do it in Year 2, that door will shut quickly.
LB Dee Winters
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This is an interesting year for Winters. He should be in the mix to start at the Will linebacker spot alongside Fred Warner. That’s an every-down job and one of the three most important positions on San Francisco’s defense. His primary competition will be rookie third-round pick Nick Martin, whose draft status probably gives him the inside track heading into training camp. Winters could win a primary starting job. He could also lose that battle and find a special teams ceiling hanging over his head as long as he’s in red and gold.
S Ji’Ayir Brown
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It’s clear the 49ers like Brown. They traded up to get him in the third round of the 2023 after not having a selection in Rounds 1 or 2. He acquitted himself well in limited action as a rookie, but he struggled in a full-time role last season. Neither his athleticism nor his penchant for generating takeaways have translated to the NFL. This season is a huge opportunity for him to snag a starting spot while Malik Mustapha recovers from an ACL injury he suffered in the 2024 season finale. His primary competition will be rookie Marquis Sigle, former Falcons defensive back Richie Grant who signed a one-year free agent deal this offseason, and special teams ace George Odum. It would be a terrible sign for Brown’s future in San Francisco if he’s unable to hold down a starting job in this version of the 49ers secondary.
K Jake Moody
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Moody was the 99th overall pick in the 2023 draft with the expectation the 49ers would not have to worry about their kicker for their foreseeable future. He immediately got off on the wrong foot with misses in his first preseason game and a miss on his first game-winning attempt. After righting the ship in Year 1, Moody struggled mightily in his second season, forcing the 49ers to add veteran kicker Greg Joseph to their offseason roster. The roster spot is Moody’s to lose, but his leash is going to be extremely short.
DE Yetur Gross-Matos
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How about a non-49ers draft pick? Gross-Matos joined the 49ers on a two-year free agent deal last offseason. He suffered a knee injury in the preseason opener that hampered him all year and led to a lackluster campaign. Gross-Matos, a second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2020, tallied 21 pressures and four sacks in 11 games per Pro Football Focus. There’s some hope a fully healthy Gross-Matos will provide some versatility on the defensive front where he can play the run on the edge or rush the passer from the interior. If he can’t stay healthy or if he struggles to produce in the preseason, the 49ers may look to cut ties with Gross-Matos to save $4.82 million against the cap this season.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: San Francisco 49ers roster: 6 players entering make-or-break season
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