As the clock hit 4:30 pm Eastern time on Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers began scouring for options. The league’s deadline requiring teams to pare their rosters down to 53 players had come and gone. Rosters that had previously started with 90 hopefuls are now down to a 53-man roster for the 2021 season. As with any roster cuts, there were surprises. Today we take a look at the three biggest surprises of the final roster cuts.
Jonas Griffith, LB
Griffith is entering his second season in the NFL. He went undrafted in 2020 and was signed by the 49ers before being waived that August. Two months later he was signed to the Indianapolis practice squad before finding his way onto the San Francisco practice squad. The 49ers signed him to a reserve contract following the season and he has enjoyed some solid performances with the team through mini-camp and the preseason. However, ahead of the final cuts for the 49ers, Griffith was traded.
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The young linebacker’s trade is what surprised many. Griffith was likely the odd-man-out in San Francisco as the starters had been locked in prior to training camp opening and the remaining depth had an experience edge on him. Griffith and a 2022 7th round pick were shipped to Denver for a 2022 6th round and 2023 7th round selection. The Broncos thought highly enough of Griffith that they did not want to risk waivers for the linebacker.
Wayne Gallman II, RB
Following four seasons with the Giants, Gallman made his way out west and signed with the 49ers as a free agent during the offseason. Gallman signed a one-year, $990,000 contract with the team, only to be the final running back released for the 49ers. San Francisco added a pair of talented rookie running backs in Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon. Mitchell was an undrafted free agent who signed a four-year, $3.66 million dollar deal back in May.
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Sermon was drafted in the third round out of Ohio State. With fellow running back, Jeff Wilson Jr. placed on the Injured Reserve list, it was believed the 49ers would keep Gallman to start the season as a veteran backup behind Raheem Mostert. However, both Sermon and Mitchell flashed a few times during preseason and Gallman became expendable. Add Michell’s return capabilities and the writing was on the wall.
Nsimba Webster, WR
A seemingly bottom-of roster addition during free agency, Webster’s signing wasn’t met with much fanfare. However, Webster brought a reputation for being a solid special teams contributor with some receiving upside, following his first two seasons with the Rams. Nsimba had seen time as a returner in Los Angeles and was a welcomed inclusion to a wide receiver room overflowing with question marks. However, solid training camp and preseason showings from the likes of Trent Sherfield and Jauan Jenning, plus the relative health of Jalen Hurd, left Webster on the bubble. It was San Francisco’s decision to stick with Hurd that ultimately sealed the fate of Webster. San Francisco went with the bigger and stronger options at wide receiver and Webster’s special teams capabilities were neutered by the presence of Sherfield and Elijah Mitchell in the return game.
– Ryan Adverderada is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage 49ers. He also covers the Arizona Cardinals for Full Press Coverage. Like and follow on Follow @ryanadverderada
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