49ers' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles

The San Francisco 49ers have the roster to compete in the NFL playoffs in 2022, but there are still some positions that need to be decided before the season begins.

Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff still have some time to figure out who will claim various roles. That's going to make the final stretch of training camp, which includes two more preseason games, especially important.

We already know many of the names who will be key players for the Niners, but there are a few starting jobs and key roles that still need to be figured out.

As we continue to monitor training camp and take in preseason games, here's a look at the positions that need to be solidified and projections for who will ultimately take the job based on recent performance and credentials.

The 49ers offensive line is going to look a lot different in 2022. Not only did Laken Tomlinson jet off to New York in free agency, but center Alex Mack also retired.

That leaves a sizable hole in the middle of the offensive line, and the 49ers have elected to hold an internal competition to fill the void.

In one corner is Jake Brendel, the nearly 30-year-old veteran who has started three games in four years in the league. In the other is Daniel Brunskill, who started all 17 games at guard last season but has made the shift to snapper to compete for the starting job.

The competition took a turn when Brunskill, 28, recently strained his hamstring and will be out for the next few weeks.

That injury could have unofficially closed the books on the competition. A lot of the responsibility of the position comes with making calls up front and being the primary communicator on the offensive line.

The time off should give Brendel the advantage. Brunskill's ability to slide back over to right guard could also make Brendel more appealing to the coaching staff.

Projection: Jake Brendel starts at center

The top three passing options in the San Francisco offense are relatively settled. Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are options 1A and 1B. Brandon Aiyuk might not be far from them as the third option.

But whoever ends up winning the job as the third receiver will see the field a lot and have a role.

The 49ers have a diverse group of contenders. Jauan Jennings saw the third-highest snap count among the receivers last season. Free-agent acquisition Ray-Ray McCloud has had a good camp and looked solid in the first preseason game with four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Then there's Danny Gray. The speedy rookie showed off his wheels with a 76-yard reception, scoring in his first appearance with 99 yards on two catches.

Ultimately, the 23-year-old might be the most talented of the three. The kind of impact he could have as a deep threat is obvious, but it's also fair to wonder if he will do the little things well enough to be on the field consistently.

McCloud is more of a slot receiver but also has the advantage of four years of experience in the league. Most of that has been spent as a returner on special teams but he clearly is picking up the Niners offense.

Projection: McCloud starts Week 1; Gray starts by the end of the season

The 49ers have been forced to play a lot of cornerbacks due to injury in recent seasons. So they know more than anyone how important depth can be in the secondary.

With that in mind, it's probably best not to count Darqueze Dennard as the team's nickel defender.

The 30-year-old is a talented defensive back when healthy, but he's also only played in 10 games over the past two seasons. It's best not to put a ton of eggs in that kind of basket.

The 49ers' first unofficial depth chart listed Dennard as the starter along with Emmanuel Moseley and Charvarius Ward on the outside. However, it was rookie Samuel Womack III who made an impact in the preseason game.

The fifth-round pick picked off two passes in the preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, and his teammates weren't surprised given what they've seen from the 23-year-old in camp.

"He’s just real scrappy in there,” linebacker Fred Warner said, per David Lombardi of The Athletic. "The way that he covers, he uses his feet really well to just cover guys instead of trying to be too grabby. I think the length (of his arms) really helps him, kind of being a shorter guy. But I love his tenacity, the way he competes."

Those are key traits for a slot defender. Dennard is likely the starter as long as he's healthy, but if the veteran goes down with an injury, don't be surprised if the team just rolls with Womack.

Projection: Dennard starts