SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers open the 2024 regular season against the New York Jets on Sept. 9 at Levi's Stadium.
Coming off an overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, the Niners once again boast one of the league's most talented rosters. Although they released longtime defensive lineman Arik Armstead in March, the 49ers have managed to keep most of their star-studded nucleus in place for at least one more season.
Alas, this could very well be the final run for the core group of players that has spurred San Francisco to at least the NFC Championship Game in four of the past five seasons. With that in mind, the Niners hope to see some of their young players take a big step forward in this training camp. There are intriguing battles in the secondary, at linebacker and on the offensive line, with potential for big changes at running back and wide receiver.
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Brock Purdy, Brandon Allen, Joshua Dobbs
While there's no drama here in terms of the starter like there has been in the past, there should be a good battle for the spot behind Purdy. It's also no sure thing that both Allen and Dobbs stick.
RUNNING BACKS (5): Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
The Niners began planning for the future by drafting Guerendo and signing undrafted free agent Cody Schrader, who could elbow his way into the mix. Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent after the season and Mason is set to be restricted, which means if Guerendo and Schrader make strong cases, a trade could come from the depth here.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Deebo Samuel Sr., Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Ronnie Bell
The first five on this list are likely solid in their spots, which means a sixth and final spot could go to Bell, Chris Conley, Danny Gray or Trent Taylor. Change is coming to this group but probably not until next offseason.
TIGHT ENDS (3): George Kittle, Logan Thomas, Brayden Willis
Once again, the Niners have big questions behind Kittle. Thomas is the most experienced and proven, which helps his cause. Willis is well positioned but will have competition from Cameron Latu, who needs a bounce-back camp to stick.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Dominick Puni, Spencer Burford, Chris Hubbard
There's an abundance of interesting options on the interior and there figures to be an interesting competition among Feliciano, Puni, Burford, Jarrett Kingston, Ben Bartch and Nick Zakelj. With Banks and Feliciano set to be free agents after the season, the Niners will err on the side of youth who can provide stability. Moore, Hubbard and Brandon Parker will battle for a spot or two at swing tackle.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins, Javon Hargrave, Jordan Elliott, Yetur Gross-Matos, Kevin Givens, Drake Jackson, Robert Beal Jr.
No position group had more offseason turnover than this one, but there don't seem to be as many obvious battles within it as there has been in years past. Gross-Matos gives some positional flexibility that allows the Niners to keep four tackles and four ends with him moving around.
LINEBACKERS (5): Fred Warner, De'Vondre Campbell, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jalen Graham, Dee Winters
Dre Greenlaw will likely start out the season on the physically unable to perform list, which narrows down the options here, but camp will provide plenty of competition. Flannigan-Fowles, Graham, Winters, Tatum Bethune and Ezekiel Turner are jockeying for three or four spots, with special teams figuring to factor heavily into how it plays out.
CORNERBACKS (6): Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Isaac Yiadom, Darrell Luter Jr., Chase Lucas
This figures to be the most hotly contested position group in camp because of the mix of youth and veterans. Ward, Lenoir, Green and Yiadom are in a good spot, which means there's only one or two openings for Luter, Lucas, Ambry Thomas, Rock Ya-Sin and Samuel Womack III. San Francisco still likes Luter's potential, and Lucas' special teams ability earns him a spot.
SAFETIES (4): Talanoa Hufanga, Ji'Ayir Brown, George Odum, Malik Mustapha
Hufanga is a free agent after the season, which means Mustapha's development will be worth watching. It would require an injury or an upset if this isn't the quartet that sticks on the initial roster.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Jake Moody, P Mitch Wishnowsky, LS Taybor Pepper
No drama here. These three are set.