The 49ers are in new territory for the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era. Their roster finally has enough depth to start looking at the bottom of the depth chart for potential contributors.
There’s been a lot of focus on the return of injured stars like Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon, and the additions of No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa and former Chiefs edge rusher Dee Ford. Those players should make a significant difference for San Francisco in 2019, but there are some under-the-radar names to keep an eye on in training camp.
Here are six players who could make waves in camp despite not getting a ton of attention throughout the offseason:
LB Dre Greenlaw
Greenlaw was the 49ers’ fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft. His draft stock dropped some due to an underwhelming combine, but San Francisco might’ve fallen into a starting linebacker. A move to a more traditional 4-3 defense opens the door for Greenlaw to compete at strongside linebacker and give the 49ers some added athleticism at that position.
WR Shawn Poindexter
The chances Poindexter works his way onto the 49ers’ crowded receiver depth chart are closer to none than slim. However, he’s a 6-foot-5, 218-pound former volleyball player who posted 759 yards and 11 touchdowns on 42 catches for the Arizona Wildcats last season. He’s still learning the position, but his size and athleticism make him worth watching. Poindexter should have a path to the practice squad if he has a good camp.
DL Jullian Taylor
The former seventh-round pick only played in six games as a rookie with seven tackles. However, adding a year of experience to his already tremendous athleticism makes him an intriguing player to watch in the middle of a suddenly stacked 49ers defensive front. Taylor has a fairly steep hill to climb to land on the roster, but the added competition may help him turn in a strong camp and earn a place in the 49ers’ defensive line rotation.
OL Ben Garland
The 49ers’ starting offensive line appears to be set going into camp. There will be open competition for jobs though, and Garland’s versatility could make him a candidate to steal a starting role. Chances are he lands a reserve role if he is on the roster. The ability to play both guard spots opens the door a little wider for him if either Laken Tomlinson or Mike Person struggle in the preseason.
TE Ross Dwelley
Dwelley had a nice offseason program going into his second NFL season. The former undrafted free agent only had two catches in 11 games last year, but competition for the backup tight end job is wide open. Dwelley is a good athlete who earned a place on the practice squad with a good showing in camp a season ago. He eventually landed on the active roster, which bodes well for his chances to improve in Year 2. Nobody is surpassing George Kittle on the depth chart, but Dwelley has a shot to develop into a nice weapon as the backup tight end.
TE Levine Toilolo
Speaking of backup tight ends, Toilolo has a legitimate shot at grabbing that spot after signing with the 49ers in free agency. He spent two years in Shanahan’s offense in Atlanta, and posted 264 yards on 13 catches with two touchdowns in their second season together. He hasn’t been particularly productive with 95 catches and eight touchdowns in 95 career games. The appeal with Toilolo though is that he’s 6-8, 268 pounds and offers a red zone target the 49ers don’t have. San Francisco’s red zone efficiency could see a big boost if Toilolo lands a job.
