Evaluating the 53-man roster chances for the San Francisco 49ers' undrafted free agent class

The San Francisco 49ers have found success with several undrafted free agents over the course of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era.

Names such as Emmanuel Moseley, Kendrick Bourne and Jordan Mason have all played prominent roles for the Niners having originally signed as UDFAs.

Though Mason is a recent success story, it has become much harder for UDFAs to crack a stacked 53-man roster. So what chance do the eight members of this year's UDFA class have?

In with a shot

RB Cody Schrader

Schrader's fall out of the draft was a big surprise given he was seen as a likely day-three pick after leading the SEC in rushing in his final year at Missouri.

He faces an uphill battle on a running back depth chart that, behind Christian McCaffrey, features a fourth-round rookie in Isaac Guerendo alongside Elijah Mitchell, Mason and Patrick Taylor Jr.

But Schrader, having walked on at Missouri after transferring from Division II, will likely be up for the fight. The odds are against him, but Schrader has vast experience on zone runs and excels at fighting through contact. He's a solid bet to impress in camp and, if he does so, the 49ers may not be willing to risk trying to sneak him onto the practice squad.

DL Evan Anderson

The 49ers have already shown their hand with Anderson, giving the former Florida Atlantic defender $280,000 in guaranteed money, a huge amount for a UDFA. The minimum salary for a practice squad player in 2024 is expected to be around $220,000.

The nose tackle therefore appears a lock to at least be on the practice squad in 2024 but, if the 49ers don't have an assurance from Anderson that he won't sign with another team, they may have no choice but to give him a place on the 53.

TE Mason Pline

Pline has a shot simply because of the dearth of tight end options behind George Kittle.

He's a project who only has three seasons of football experience under his belt having originally played basketball at Ferris State. He transferred to Furman in 2023 and caught 32 passes, including four for touchdowns, averaging nine yards per reception.

Still very raw, Pline would most likely be bound for the practice squad, but his size and athleticism are significant assets and a standout showing in camp might be enough for the Niners to decide to give him a shot.

Practice squad or bust

C Drake Nugent

The 49ers' primary backup to Jake Brendel is right guard Jon Feliciano and they believe third-round pick Dominick Puni could also play center, so Nugent's chances to making the roster are very slim after signing out of National Champions Michigan.

His actual battle is with Corey Luciano for a place on the practice squad. Luciano has guard-center flexibility and appeared in two games last season but, with Jake Brendel in his 30s and a potential cap casualty in the coming seasons, Nugent has a shot to stake his claim as a possible long-term option at center who is worth keeping on the practice squad.

WR Terique Owens

The 49ers simply have too much depth at receiver, having drafted two, for the son of Terrell Owens to be in with a realistic chance of making the roster.

But the Niners were impressed by his efforts at their local pro day, with GM John Lynch comparing his running style to that of his dad, and he displayed big-play upside at Missouri State.

Owens didn't start football until high school, so he's playing catch-up, and the Niners may be willing to keep a feel-good project on the practice squad if he shows enough during the offseason.

QB Tanner Mordecai

Signed out of Wisconsin as the 49ers' extra arm for camp and the latter stages of eminently forgettable preseason games, Mordecai will hope to do enough to land on some team's practice squad.

Given the 49ers' checkered injury history at quarterback, it wouldn't be a surprise if they kept him around on theirs, just in case.

OL Briason Mays

Mays brings excellent versatility having started games at center, left tackle and right tackle during his collegiate career at West Virginia and Southern Miss.

As with Nugent, however, the problem is that there's simply too many names ahead of him on the offensive line depth chart for him to have a hope of anything other than a practice squad berth.

DB Jaylen Mahoney

A versatile safety who can also play the slot, Mahoney demonstrated impressive ball skills during his career with Vanderbilt, which he finished with 22 pass breakups and four interceptions.

But the 49ers' depth charts at both corner and safety already look to be pretty much set following a draft in which they addressed both positions. Mahoney will have to prove he's a better practice squad option than veteran safety Erik Harris and Tayler Hawkins, who had a Week 18 interception for the Niners last season.