Inside 49ers' Must-Watch Training Camp Battles

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a 6-11 season that failed to meet the team's Super Bowl expectations from the season before. Last year was plagued by injury just as much as the disappointing results, so this offseason's focus has been on rehabilitation and retainment of the franchise's brightest stars.

Quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner each got new high-paying contracts. They won't be in any competition at this year's training camp, but some key performances could decide who lines up next to them come Week 1.

Take a look at the three key position battles this summer that have serious implications on the 49ers starting lineup.

Left Guard

Starting lineman Aaron Banks signed with the Green Bay Packers, leaving an opening next to tackle Trent Williams on the offensive line.

Pro Football Network names this spot as the most important competition of the offseason to solidify Purdy's blindside. The Niners didn't pick a guard until the seventh round of this year's NFL Draft, leaving many to assume Kyle Shanahan is fine with promoting Ben Bartch up the depth chart to a starter.

"Bartch only has 10 starts since 2022, though," PFN noted. "In his lone year as a starter, he allowed three sacks and 24 pressures for Jacksonville in 2021. Spencer Burford started at guard for San Francisco in 2022 and 2023 before getting demoted last year."

San Francisco might be moving Burford to the edge to back up Williams with last year's second-string signing elsewhere in free agency.

Other members of the 49ers O-line were once backups before being awarded the starting job. The same fate could lie with Bartch if he rises to the occasion at camp.

Linebacker

Warner will need a running mate as versatile linebacker Dre Greenlaw signed a new contract with the Denver Broncos.

This competition will come down to Dee Winters, a third-year player who saw 10 starts last season, and Nick Martin, an exciting and physical rookie.

Winters has a clear opportunity to step into a full-time role this season. The former sixth-round pick had 44 tackles and four pass deflections in 2024.

Martin, a four-year at Oklahoma State, dealt with injury last season, but profiles as a force to be reckoned with. In his last full year in 2023, Martin led the Big 12 with 83 tackles. He was one of San Francisco's third-round picks this offseason.

Nickel Cornerback

The Niners defense saw another major free agency departure in cornerback Charvarius Ward. At the nickel cornerback position, there is expected to be a battle between Tre Brown and rookie Upton Stout to be Ward's replacement.

Brown comes to the 49ers after having spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, however, that time didn't yield much on-field experience. The former fourth-rounder has just 13 career starts.

Stout was picked No. 100 overall in the third round of the 2025 Draft out of Western Kentucky. The 5-9 prospect is an aggressive playmaker with an impressive reaction time and knack for forcing turnovers.

There isn't a ton of experience here, which also pins the cornerback position as one most likely to see an addition via free agency or a trade if Shanahan and staff want to make it a larger competition pool.

The 49ers will host training camp at SAP Performance in Santa Clara. Rookies will report on July 15 and veterans will attend starting on July 22.