Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch love the rookies.
They had 19 rookie free agents at press time on the 90-man roster, along with eight drafted players. The rookie tally could also increase. In recent weeks, the team shaved veteran running backs Dujuan Harris and Mike Davis to make room for, yes, more rookies.
The preponderance of youngsters might be because Shanahan and his staff can mold them into their new offensive and defensive schemes. It’s not surprising that there are plenty of safeties and offensive linemen on the list below, as the team converts to a zone blocking scheme and a defense featuring a single high safety.
Here’s a look at this year’s rookie free agents:
Lorenzo Jerome, S, St. Francis
The 49ers would love it if Jerome made the team because of his slot cornerback, safety and punt and kickoff return abilities. He shined at the Senior Bowl picking off a pass and some scouts had him as a fifth-round choice. When he wasn’t drafted, Jerome was ESPN analyst Todd McShay’s top rookie free agent. The only question is does he have the athleticism and speed to be an NFL player? If the first rookie minicamp is any indication, he just might. Jerome intercepted a C.J. Beathard pass at the sideline during team drills.
Nick Mullens, QB, Southern Mississippi
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EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters
Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
Always finding their way to run
49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
