The San Francisco 49ers have to deal with the dreaded Super Bowl hangover after a heartbreaking loss in the championship game and they're still stuck in the most competitive division in the entire NFL, but based on the overall strength of their roster, they have the look of a Super Bowl contender. They didn't go 13-3 on accident and if not for Patrick Mahomes' fourth-quarter heroics, they would've lifted the Lombardi Trophy. Now, fresh off that incredible season that came up only a few minutes short of the ultimate prize, they're aiming to take it one step further in 2020.

The good news is that the 49ers have a complete enough roster to do exactly that. For the most part, with the exceptions of DeForest Buckner (traded to the Colts), Emmanuel Sanders (signed with the Saints in free agency), and Joe Staley (retired) the 49ers are bringing back most of their core in 2020. And even in the case of those three aforementioned players, the 49ers did well to reload at those three positions, using their two first-round picks on Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk, and trading for Trent Williams. In short, this team remains the best of the division and arguably the entire conference.

With all that in mind, we decided that now would be a good time to examine the 49ers' roster heading into the summer. Below, you'll find our projections for the way the 49ers' depth chart should shake out as the season approaches.

Rookies will be denoted with a (*).

Offense


StarterBackupDepthDepth
QB Jimmy Garoppolo Nick Mullens C.J. Beathard  Broc Rutter*
RB Raheem Mostert  Tevin Coleman  Jeff Wilson  Jerick McKinnon
WR Deebo Samuel  Trent Taylor  Travis Benjamin  Chris Finke*
WR Kendrick Bourne
Jalen Hurd Richie James
Chris Thompson
WR Brandon Aiyuk* Dante Pettis  Jauan Jennings*
Shawn Poindexter
TE George Kittle  Ross Dwelley  Daniel Helm  Charlie Woerner* 
LT Trent Williams  Justin Skule  Colton McKivitz* Leonard Wester 
LG Laken Tomlinson  Kofi Amichia  Shon Coleman 
C Weston Richburg  Ben Garland  Jake Brendel 
RG Tom Compton Daniel Brunskill Ross Reynolds 
RT Mike McGlinchey  Shon Coleman  Colton McKivitz* Jaryd Jones-Smith

The 49ers are settled at quarterback and feature one of the deepest quarterback rooms with Jimmy Garoppolo locked in as the starter after his first full season led to encouraging results and Nick Mullens as the backup after he filled in admirably for Garoppolo in 2018. They even have a quality third-string backup in C.J. Beathard. 

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At running back, the 49ers relied on a committee a season ago, and it seems likely that things will remain that way in 2020. Raheem Mostert, after breaking out in the postseason, should continue to gather plenty of touches along with Tevin Coleman. It'll be interesting to see if Jerick McKinnon, who signed with the team before the 2018 season but has yet to make his debut due to injuries, can finally factor into the committee. At tight end, the 49ers are set with George Kittle as the star. 

Where things begin to get dicey are at receiver, but only because Deebo Samuel broke his foot and could miss the beginning of the regular season. At this point, it's unclear if he'll be ready for Week 1. Brandon Aiyuk is slated to start. Kendrick Bourne, after flashing potential down the stretch, should continue to garner reps. Meanwhile, the injury to Samuel provides former second-round pick Dante Pettis with an opportunity to rebound after a massively disappointing 2019 season. The team did add veteran Travis Benjamin this offseason, giving them another option if Samuel misses game time.

The most notable area of competition is at right guard. Four of the starting spots up front are set in stone, but there's a gap at right guard after Mike Person was released. It'll likely come down to a competition between veteran Tom Compton, who signed with the 49ers in free agency, and Daniel Brunskill. 

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Defense


StarterBackupDepth
DE Arik Armstead  Dee Ford Ronald Blair
DT Solomon Thomas  Jullian Taylor  Willie Henry 
DT Javon Kinlaw* D.J. Jones Kevin Givens 
DE Nick Bosa Kentavius Street Alex Barrett 
SLB Dre Greenlaw  Mark Nzeocha Jonas Griffith*
MLB Fred Warner  Joe Walker Azeez Al-Shaair
WLB Kwon Alexander Joey Alfieri Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
CB Richard Sherman  Dontae Johnson  Tim Harris
CB Ahkello Witherspoon  Emmanuel Moseley  Jason Verrett
CB K'Waun Williams  D.J. Reed Teez Tabor
FS Jimmie Ward  Tarvarius Moore D.J. Reed 
SS Jaquiski Tartt  Marcell Harris Derrick Kindred 

Most of the 49ers' vaunted defense is returning in 2020. Up front, what's notable is that first-round pick Javon Kinlaw should immediately take DeForest Buckner's place while pass rusher Dee Ford, who is listed as a backup, should see plenty of snaps in passing situations. With the underrated D.J. Jones also listed as a backup, this 49ers defensive line remains supremely stacked. It's still among the league's best.

Behind the defensive front, it'll be interesting to monitor what happens at linebacker, specifically if Kwon Alexander regains his starting job at weakside linebacker or if Dre Greenlaw keeps the job after filling in for Alexander in the second half of last season when Alexander got hurt. Given just how much money the team gave Alexander in free agency last year, he's the safest bet to get that job next to Fred Warner. Greenlaw should still see plenty of the field, even if Alexander gets his job back, especially when the team deploys three linebackers.

The other interesting battle is at cornerback opposite Richard Sherman. Last year, Ahkello Witherspoon started eight games, but was benched for Emmanuel Moseley in the playoffs. The competition should pick up in the summer whenever training camp begins.  

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Otherwise, the defense is mostly set. And that's a good thing. This defense is talented and deep enough to be the league's top unit.

Special teams


StarterBackup
K Robbie Gould
P Mitch Wishnowsky
LS Kyle Nelson
KR Richie James Travis Benjamin
PR Richie James Dante Pettis

The 49ers have a ton of stability on special teams. Robbie Gould, who signed a huge deal last year, will be back at kicker. Mitch Wishnowsky, who was drafted in the fourth round last year, will return as punter. Finally, Richie James, who handled return duties a season ago, should continue to do so in 2020.

A year ago, the 49ers' ranked 12th in special teams DVOA. With all of their main contributors returning, they'll have continuity on their side in 2020. In a truncated offseason, that could matter more than usual. 

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