5 San Francisco 49ers Veterans Now on Roster Bubble Following Draft

The San Francisco 49ers drafted 10 players this year, and nine of them don’t fill an immediate need.

Only fourth-round pick Mike Davis fills a hole in the roster. The Niners like to have four running backs, and they had just three before the draft. Davis completes the committee. He is virtually guaranteed a roster spot

The other nine picks have to beat out veterans for their roster spots. Although most of the draft picks will make the roster—the Niners didn’t draft them just to cut them a few months later.

That means the Niners will cut some quality veterans at the end of training camp. Here are five veterans who might be on their way out.

1. Justin Smith, Defensive Tackle

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If Justin Smith decides he wants to play one more season, by all means, the 49ers will take him. But if they were expecting him to play, would they have spent their first-round pick on a defensive lineman this year?

Hard to say.

Here’s what we know for sure: Without Smith, the 49ers have seven defensive linemen capable of making the final roster: Arik Armstead, Darnell Dockett, Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey, Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial and Tony-Jerod Eddie.

Last season, the Niners typically carried no more than six defensive linemen at a time. So even if Smith chooses to retire, one of the other seven defensive linemen could be on the bubble—most likely Jerod-Eddie. He’s only signed through 2015, and he’s scheduled to earn just $585,000. He is not a key contributor. The Niners can afford to cut him.

2. Ahmad Brooks, Outside Linebacker

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Third-round pick Eli Harold is the 49ers’ fifth outside linebacker. They probably will carry no more than four during the season. Someone has to go.

Ahmad Brooks is scheduled to earn as much as $7,055,000 next season. He was a Pro Bowler in 2013, but last season he was out of shape. Rookie Aaron Lynch was better than Brooks. If Lynch wins the starting job for 2015, Brooks will be quite an expensive backup.

And if the Niners cut him after June 1, they will save $4,706,250, according to Jason Hurley and David Fucillo of Niners Nation.

But the Niners may decide they want to keep Brooks. He’s only 31 and, if he’s in shape, who knows—he might have a a good season in 2015. 

If they keep him, the odd man out probably will be Corey Lemonier. The Niners drafted him in the third round two years ago, but he has been a non-factor—only one sack in two seasons.

3. Vance McDonald, Tight End

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Two years ago, the 49ers drafted Vance McDonald in the second round. They actually traded up to get him. Through his first two seasons, he has made just 10 catches.

And he spent the final eight games of 2014 on injured reserve (IR) with a back injury. He is definitely on the bubble—especially considering the Niners just drafted two tight ends—Blake Bell and Rory Anderson. The Niners also gave a two-year extension to Derek Carrier before the draft. He is under contract through 2017.

Carrier is almost guaranteed a spot on the roster. So is Vernon Davis. And so is Blake Bell—the Niners took him in Round 4.

To make the final roster, McDonald will have to give the Niners a reason to carry four tight ends. He will have to earn his spot.

4. Craig Dahl, Safety

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Craig Dahl, the 49ers’ third-string safety, is scheduled to earn almost $2 million next season.

Last season, Dahl earned a minus-3.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, even though he only played 184 snaps on defense. He is not a good safety. He is an expensive special teams player who turns 30 in June.

That's probably why the 49ers drafted safety Jaquiski Tartt in Round 2. Why give all of that money to Dahl when they can get a cheaper, younger, more talented safety in the draft?

Dahl probably is as good as gone.

Tartt should take his spot as the third-string safety in 2015, and in 2016 Tartt may take Antoine Bethea’s spot as the starting strong safety. Bethea will be 32 and scheduled to earn $6,250,000 in 2016.

5. Andy Lee, Punter

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Andy Lee is one of the best punters in the NFL, but he turns 32 in August. And he will earn $2,550,000 next season if the Niners don’t cut him.

That's a lot to pay a punter, even one as good as Lee. And that’s probably why the 49ers spent their fifth-round pick this year on punter Bradley Pinion. Pinion is the first punter the 49ers have drafted since they took Lee in the sixth round of the 2004 draft.

If the Niners cut Pinion, they would throw away a fifth-round draft pick. Pinion probably will make the final roster.

That means Lee probably won't. It seems likely the Niners will choose to cut the older, more expensive punter.

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