The 2019 season is a substantial turning point in the history of the 49ers. It’ll be Year 3 of the rebuild that began with the arrivals of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, and their long leash has begun losing slack. With a roster full of players they’ve chosen and the clock ticking on building a contender, it’s going time to prove their long-term worth for a slew of 49ers.
Here are the eight players with the most to prove in training camp and throughout the 2019 season:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
It’s hard to imagine Garoppolo needs to “prove” anything after he signed his massive deal prior to last season. However, the 49ers can get out of his contract for relatively cheap after this year and a poor showing in 2019 could lead to questions about the team’s future under center. There’s also a question about durability that must be answered. Garoppolo got hurt in 2016 during his first stint as a starter with the Patriots. Then he tore his ACL in Week 3 last season. The overwhelming odds are that Garoppolo is the 49ers’ starting quarterback in 2020, but it’s worth considering his long-term viability as a franchise player if he’s unable to put together a strong 2019 season.
DL Solomon Thomas
Personal tragedy played a significant role in Thomas’ underwhelming 2018 campaign, so it’s difficult to judge the former No. 3 overall pick as a player after two years. It appears though that he’s not as versatile as the team initially thought when they selected him in the 2017 draft. His impact as a pass rusher off the edge is minimal, and a more permanent move inside should benefit him in his third year. Another bad year from Thomas, who has just 4.0 career sacks, could dramatically affect his chances of earning a second contract with San Francisco. A strong outing in 2019 would be a nice building block going into his fourth season in 2020.
C Weston Richburg
The 49ers gave Richburg a substantial free agent contract prior to last season in hopes that the former Giant could solidify the interior of the offensive line. He didn’t get off to a good start in red and gold. A painful lower leg injury bothered him for most of last year, and it showed against some of the NFL’s premier defensive tackles. A full recovery from that injury should allow the five-year veteran to regain his form in 2019. If he struggles again though, the 49ers may begin searching for a new answer for the middle of their offensive line.
RB Jerick McKinnon
An injury ended McKinnon’s first year with the 49ers before it could start. He tore his ACL the week before the first week of the season, but should return for the start of training camp this season. With Matt Breida breaking out last year, and Tevin Coleman signing in the offseason, McKinnon won’t simply walk back into a starting job. He’s going to need to stand out as both a runner and receiver to regain his place atop the depth chart. Shanahan believes strongly in McKinnon’s ability to make an impact. It’s why the 49ers gave him a four-year, $30 million deal with $18 million guaranteed last offseason. Now he has to bounce back from his ACL injury and prove he’s the lead back San Francisco signed him to be.
LB Kwon Alexander
This year’s free agent off-ball linebacker class was very strong. With their depth at the position lacking, it looked like the 49ers might aim for one of the top talents at the position. They wound up making the somewhat surprising move of giving Alexander a four-year deal worth $54 million with $27 million guaranteed. That’s big money for a linebacker who tore his ACL in late October. Shanahan and Lynch believe Alexander can be a force in the middle of their front seven alongside Fred Warner. He’s a superb athlete who’s good in coverage and plays a fast, downhill style. His playmaking should help the 49ers defense, but how he recovers from that ACL injury will determine whether the team made the right move paying him top LB money.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
A tumultuous first two seasons leaves Witherspoon at a crossroads going into 2019. He’s the favorite to win the starting job in training camp, but it’s far from guaranteed he’ll be the one lining up across from Richard Sherman to start the year. It may never happen if the former third-round pick can’t emerge as a bona fide starting-caliber cornerback in his third season. On the other hand, securing a starting job and playing well in 2019 could earn Witherspoon a spot at the top of the 49ers’ depth chart for the foreseeable future.
FS Adrian Colbert
It could be a make-or-break year for the former seventh-round pick. Colbert played well to end the 2017 season, but struggled mightily last year before an ankle injury limited him to only seven games. Now the starting free safety job is wide open and Colbert may not get another chance to win it after this year. He’s probably behind Jimmie Ward (more on him later) on the fully healthy version of the 49ers’ training camp depth chart, but the job is very winnable for Colbert. Another year as a reserve could affect his long-term future in Santa Clara, while grabbing the starting job and playing well could turn him into a foundational piece of the secondary.
FS Jimmie Ward
Ward is in a similar spot to Colbert, only he’s entering Year 6 instead of Year 3. Perhaps the biggest key for Ward will be staying healthy for 16 games. That would be a significant win for the oft-injured defensive back who already broke his collarbone during offseason workouts. He’s likely the team’s best free safety when he’s on the field, but he’s played just one full season out of five. Ward’s the favorite to snag the starting job after re-signing a one-year deal with the 49ers in the offseason. The coaching staff likes him and would probably take him on the roster as long as he’s able to play. Another injury-shortened year though could have an adverse affect on Ward’s future in the NFL.
