It's that time of year again: Training camp. While it may be easy for some teams to cut the roster down to 53, teams like the San Francisco 49ers can have a hard time finding out who to let go. They have a deep roster and have a lot of people buzzing with a ton of potential in store for the 2021 NFL season.
However, even with a solid roster, there are cuts to make. Here are three players that the team could release entering 2021 training camp.
Josh Rosen
Josh Rosen's fall in the NFL is tough to see. Selected in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals, he was viewed as the future for the Cardinals. However, they lost faith in him within one season. In 2018, he tossed 11 touchdowns but managed to throw 14 interceptions in the process. From there, things started to get even worse. Arizona would end up selected Kyler Murray the following year, trading Rosen to the Miami Dolphins.
But then it gets worse. After one year in Miami, he was let go in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa. The 49ers would then take a flier on the former first-rounder. Even though his chances to start were slim, the selection of quarterback Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft eliminates him from any type of competition to be a starter or a backup. Cutting him would open up about $900,000 in cap space. It may not be much, but releasing Josh Rosen would clear up the QB room and even give Rosen a chance to keep somewhere else.
Travis Benjamin
At the age of 31, Travis Benjamin is heading to a point in his career where he serves as more of a leader rather than a contributor. However, with a sort of stacked wide receiver room, he could be on the cutting block. With veterans such as Mohamed Sanu and youngsters like Brandon Aiyuk taking over, there may not be enough reps to share around. The last time he played a full 16 games, (2017), he only produced about 500 yards and four touchdowns. With injuries plaguing most of his career, releasing him could signal the end of Benjamin's time in the NFL.
Dee Ford
When the Kansas City Chiefs traded away Dee Ford to the 49ers, they believed that he could terrorize the league within a matter of years. Nonetheless, his status as a starter could be in trouble. Ford's career has been riddled with numerous injuries, which have hurt his chances of being a starter. Prior to getting sidelined in 2020, Ford had 6.5 sacks and 14 total tackles with the Red and Gold. He just hasn't met his expectations and potential. He still has a chance to produce with another team, but his time in San Fran could be nearing its end.
It was hard to decide who should be cut in this team. All of these players could be contributors when the time comes, such as injuries. Ford is still a good pass rusher, Benjamin can play at a solid level when he plays in the slot and Rosen has loads of potential. But this team is currently in win-now mode. General manager John Lynch has to make the big decisions that can make or break a season. But he is up to the task.
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