49ers' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles

Brandon Aiyuk's contract situation and potential trade have dominated the headlines around the San Francisco 49ers since training camp started. Meanwhile, there are players who are fighting in camp and the preseason to earn important roles ahead of the 2024 season.

The Niners come into the season with one of the best rosters in the league. Anything short of at least making another Super Bowl would be a bitter disappointment for this team regardless of what happens with its star wide receiver.

In order to do that, there are a few positions that need ironed out. There aren't a ton of jobs up for grabs, but the few that are will play an important role in a critical season for San Francisco.

Here, we'll take a look at those position battles, where they stand after training camp and one preseason game and make a prediction for how they will turn out.

Cornerback

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Renardo Green

Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are undoubtedly going to start at cornerback. Ward is the team's premium cover man and Lenoir played well enough to be a no-brainer starter this season.

The question is who will be the third starter. Lenoir's ability to play either inside or outside has opened up the possibility for either Isaac Yiadom or rookie Renardo Green to win the spot.

Yiadom would primarily be an outside corner while Green would play in the slot. Lenoir would kick to the inside if Yiadom wins the job and would play outside with Green.

Heading into the first preseason game it would be safe to assume that Yiadom was in the lead. That might have changed, though. Yiadom rolled his ankle before the preseason game and is not expected to be out for a few weeks. Green played a ton in the preseason game lining up on the inside and outside.

He is going to get a ton of reps while Yiadom is out, especially with Ambry Thomas suffering a broken arm.

Green is a talented player who could use those extra reps to win the job.

Prediction: Green Becomes the Third Cornerback

Right Guard

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Dominick Puni

The 49ers unofficial depth chart lists three contenders for the right guard job. Spencer Burford, Jon Feliciano and rookie Dominick Puni are listed in that order.

It really feels like that hierarchy could be flipped by the time the Niners are getting ready to play the New York Jets in Week 1.

Part of that is because Puni seems to be getting good reviews for his performance. He didn't give up a sack or pressure in his preseason debut where he ran with the starters.

Puni has also been helped by some unfortunate breaks for his competitors at the position. Burford is dealing with a broken hand while the 32-year-old Feliciano has been out of practice with knee soreness.

Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Puni has practiced like he played:

"He's been good since his first snap," Shanahan said of Puni, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "So it hasn't seemed too big for him. He's gotten better each day in practice. And when you see that, you really want to see how it is in the game and see if anything changes. He looked the same in the game as in practice. So we're excited about that."

With another week of Puni playing right guard, there's a good chance the job is already wrapped up by the time the other two return from injury.

Prediction: Puni is the Week 1 Starter

No. 2 Running Back

Justin Ford/Getty Images

Jordan Mason

It's no secret that Christian McCaffrey is the best overall running back in the league. It's also no secret that he's had some bad luck with injuries.

That makes the Niners battle for the No. 2 running back spot a consequential one. If McCaffrey's healthy, they probably won't have much work. Elijah Mitchell only had 81 total touches last season while CMC had 339.

Still, McCaffrey is 28 and the Niners might want to find ways to keep him healthy and fresh for another 17-game season and (hopefully) a deep playoff run.

Mitchell is once again in the running to be behind McCaffrey on the depth chart. However, Jordan Mason will also be a consideration and rookie Isaac Guerendo is lurking as dark-horse candidate.

A hamstring injury makes Guerendo's odds an even longer shot. Realistically, it's Mitchell vs. Mason and it was Mason who made a good case in the preseason game. Mitchell sat out with a hamstring injury while Mason had 34 yards on six carries with the starters including a four-yard touchdown run.

Mason is a violent runner with the short-yardage chops to take some between-the-tackles runs off CMC's plate.

However, it's a little too early to declare him the winner. Mitchell is a proven runner who nearly had 1,000 yards before the Niners brought in McCaffrey. It's going to take continued injuries for Mason to take the job.

Prediction: Mitchell Will Be RB2