49ers Week 1 Preseason - Who I am Excited to Watch
We have reached NFL Preseason football. The San Francisco 49ers take on the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium today at 6:00pm PST.
Who should we be on the lookout for?
I have written two 49ers training camp related articles. One that overviewed every player's status on the 90 man roster, and the other going over training camp storylines to track.
Since then, lots of movement has occured on the 49ers roster.
The only major injury is Ricky Pearsall being out for the season, but so many guys being banged up has forced the 49ers to release mutliple players so they have healthy bodies to participate in practice.
Here is an up to date personal depth chart prior to the 49ers first presesason game.
At this point, we have heard all the training camp drama.
Who's stock is up, who is trending downward, and who is not even practicing. And so many of these players simply have less than 1% chance to make the roster, yet will see lots of preseason reps.
On top of that, preseason football is bland. I love watching it, but having major takeaways do not really exist, because the game is so simple, unlike regular season NFL football.
With this said, let's discuss what I am simply excited to watch to begin preseason.
Wide Receivers:
De'Zhaun Stribling
The 49ers first pick has been lighting up training camp. I want to see how much he plays. If he only takes a couple drives, that could be a sign the 49ers want to save him, with plans to start him Week 1. I also want to see how easy the game is for him.
The Final WR Spot
It depends on how many receivers the 49ers elect to keep, but it seems more than likely the final spot is given to the best punt returner. Can any of these guys separate themselves, whether as a returner or receiver over the middle of the field?
2025 7th round pick Junior Bergen was released to make room for healthy RBs, so he's no longer an option.
2024 4th round pick Jacob Cowing is a favorite of mine, but clearly on the roster bubble. He's also been banged up, so will he get to play? He can be a legit playmaker in my mind.
Will Pauling is a UDFA out of Notre Dame. He has received praise from the coaching staff, specifically WR coach Leonard Hankerson. They've lauded over his toughness, blocking, and he's a punt return option.
Jordan Watkins was a 4th rounder last year, who is a roster lock in my mind. However, the training camp reports of his hands have not been great. He should see a decent workload. I have high hopes. He does not seem to be an option as a punt returner.
Wesley Grimes is another UDFA, from NC State. Not a return option, but reporters have praised his separation ability in camp. He stands at 6'2, 194 pounds and has good speed.
Linebackers:
Jaden Dugger
The 5th rounder has been made out to be a Hall of Famer on this new 49ers defense.
He's a former safety who made he transition to LB just so the University of Louisiana could get him on the field. At 6'4, 240lbs with a 7 foot wingspan, he's one of the more unique players in the NFL.
How will he be used? As a regular WILL backer, or is he the starter in Raheem Morris' defense as the "fever" backer, a guy who can line up on the line of scrimmage in 5-man fronts and occasionally rush the passer.
As a former safety, is he smooth in coverage? How effectively can he come downhill at his size? If he does line up on the line of scrimmage, can he hold up against the run? Will he be able to cover RBs out of the backfield?
Lots of questions that won't all be answered, but it will be fascinating to watch a man of Dugger's size move in a 49ers uniform.
Nick Martin
The 2025 3rd rounder was a special teamer as a rookie, until he missed the final two months with a concussion. But he was reportedly the starter alongside Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner in training camp, and played next to Warner if Greenlaw was out.
The trust seems to be there with the staff and players.
Martin is fast, smaller, but a ball of muscle who loves to hit. In his playing time last year, even in the preseason, he showed how eager he was to get downhill, but often overan the ballcarrier.
How adjusted will Matin look to the NFL game? Can he cover like Greenlaw and move smoothly as a cover backer?
Martin has also gotten reps on the line of scrimmage in practice, can he be an effective blitzer?
I can't wait to watch Martin fly around the football field again.
Defensive Tackles:
Sebastian Valdez
The 49ers had some injuries at DT, will Alfred Collins starting the offseason on the PUP list, and rookie Gracen Halton banging up his knee. In that time, Valdez took reps with the starters.
A UDFA out of Washington in 2025, Valdez spent all of his rookie year on the practice squad. He's a freak, with incredible strength at just 300lbs. And, for what it's worth, Valdez is listed as the 4th DT on the 49ers preseason depth chart. They seem to like what they see with the reps he gets in training camp.
James Thompson Jr
A UDFA out of Illinois, Thompson has had some positive notes out of camp. At 6'6, 308lbs, Thompson has a chance to break onto the roster by wreaking shop in the preseason.
Bryson Eason
A UDFA from Tennessee, Eason also had lots of praise during training camp, from staff and reporters. He's a 6'3, 313lb guy, who is more of a run defender. Can he ruin other rookies dreams? That's what it will take to make the roster.
It seems there is a chance the 49ers keep a fifth DT beyond Osa Odighizuwa, Alfred Collins, C.J. West, and Gracen Halton. Who can step up and be the guy?
Not much to discuss with trenches guys who have fairly similar skillsets and no NFL experience. But it will be interesting to watch who can make the preseason look easiest.
Interior Offensive Line:
LG Robert Jones
A veteran who missed 2025 with a neck issue, he has starting experience and a shot to take the LG job. How will he look after missing a year of football?
LG Connor Colby
The 2025 7th round pick started 6 games as a rookie, with not much to be impressed by. But he has a clean runway to start at LG, and is likely the 49ers preferred option. Can he keep the pocket clean and take the job?
IOL Carver Willis
The rookie 4th rounder missed some time in camp with a concussion, limiting his reps. The 49ers want to train him at center, but that is a difficult transition for a college LT.
The 49ers LG spot is wide open. They are also holdign open competition for a backup interior role, with veteran free agent signing Brett Toth likely taking a role. Maybe Toth is even in play as the LG starter, but he was signed to be the backup center, and versatile piece inside.
A few honorable mentions, because I really could list the entire roster:
Rookie tackle Enrique Cruz is clearly a Chris Foerster favorite, but has gotten terrible reviews in camp. Is he more of a game player, or is this just a young guy who needs lots of development?
2nd year safety Marques Sigle. I like a lot of what Sigle did as a rookie. He's very fast and a great open field tackler. That immediately sets a floor and gives him high level starting upside. But he was bad at playing the ball in 2025, even if he was in the right position. He said he added 8lbs in the offseason, so let's see if that makes a difference.
3rd round pick Romello Height will need to contribute immediately as a rookie for the 49ers to see success. Can he make the preseaon look easy?
Unfortunately, there is no punting competition to track, with rookie UDFA Jack Bouwmeester being released. But, if veteran Corliss Waitman is not great, Bouwmeester could be back at practice on Monday.
And it appears as if the two young RBs will be missing the first preseason game, so no RB2 competition to track either.
Can 2025 7th round pick Kurtis Rourke be the future backup?
Anyways, football is back! Let's enjoy it.
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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