My attempt at predicting the 53 man roster

I was bored last night so I put together a 53 man roster prediction. Let me know what you think.

OFFENSE (25):

QB (3): C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills, Case Keenum

Carrying three QBs on the roster is a no-brainer, especially with the emergency gameday QB rule that is going into effect this year. Keenum brings a valuable veteran perspective to the QB room. E.J. Perry will likely find himself on the practice squad.

RB (3): Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary, Mike Boone

I think Mike Boone is solidly in the driver’s seat for the RB3 spot. The 49ers carried a crap ton of RBs on their roster last year, so Slowik may petition for Dare Ogunbowale to make the team if he feels like he needs a fourth guy here.

FB (1): Andrew Beck

With Hairston out for the year on IR, Beck has no competition for the FB spot. Beck also has TE versatility, supposedly.

WR (6): Robert Woods, Nico Collins, Noah Brown, Tank Dell, John Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson

This group seems pretty solidified; Hutchinson has done enough in training camp to secure a spot on the roster, in my eyes. There are a number of guys lower down the ladder who have had nice moments, like Alex Bachman and Jared Wayne. Steven Sims has gotten some run in special teams, so watch out for him as a dark horse.

TE (3): Dalton Schultz, Teagan Quitoriano, Brevin Jordan

Much was made about the Colts having 9 TEs in camp, but the Texans aren’t far behind, with 8. To be honest, I wanted to leave Brevin Jordan off of here. He’s been injured, and I don’t think he’s the kind of player we’re looking for for this offense. However, no one from the rabble behind him has stood out enough to replace him. I also considered carrying just 2 TEs since Beck can fill in there, but thought better of it.

OL (9):

OT (4): Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard, Charlie Heck, George Fant

This is kind of a weird one because of Heck’s injury status. If he isn’t going to be out too much longer, then I think it’ll be him and Fant. While normally I think the Texans would want a swing tackle and a developmental guy as their depth, with a rookie QB to protect I believe they’d rather take quality over a project. If Heck is going to remain on the PUP list, then I think Deculus makes it. He didn’t have a great game against the Patriots of course, but I didn’t find it to be as bad as it’s been made out to be. Plus, look at the other tackles on the roster and see if you can tell me who the heck any of those people are. The Texans will be the #2 priority team on the waiver wire after cuts, so this could be a position they’ll be looking at to find someone else to bring in, but O-line depth is so thin across the league that it’s doubtful.

IOL (5): Juice Scruggs, Shaq Mason, Kenyon Green, Michael Dieter, Jarrett Patterson

Once again, we have an awkward situation because of an injury. Patterson has been out most of camp and just came back. Can he get up to speed enough by the start of the season? Since my answer is yes, I included him on the roster, but the idea of risking putting him on the practice squad and replacing him with Jimmy Morrissey is very tempting. Dieter is solid as a backup center and disappointing as a backup guard, but I think his spot is secured.

DEFENSE (25):

DL (10):

EDGE (5): Will Anderson Jr., Jonathan Greenard, Jerry Hughes, Jacob Martin, Dylan Horton

Behind the main three guys at EDGE, Jacob Martin has had a great camp and has put himself in position to make the team. Horton has missed some time with injury but has flashed a little bit while he’s been healthy. Horton shouldn’t have to worry about making the final cut, especially since he was a 4th round pick. Chase Winovich played well against the Patriots, but his position behind Derek Rivers on the unofficial depth chart is telling.

IDL (5): Maliek Collins, Sheldon Rankins, Hassan Ridgeway, Roy Lopez, Kurt Hinish

Ridgeway has proven his worth as a run stuffer in training camp, and Roy Lopez has looked new and improved according to several reports. Kurt Hinish was a difficult decision, because I wanted more room at other positions, but I also really don’t want to let this guy go, and I believe the Texans feel the same. If he gets put on the practice squad I feel like he’s at risk of being poached by another team, so on the 53 he goes. Unfortunately, an injured Thomas Booker IV likely won’t make the cut.

LB (6): Denzel Perryman, Christian Harris, Blake Cashman, Henry To’oTo’o, Christian Kirksey, Cory Littleton

Perryman, Harris, Cashman, and To’oTo’o are locks. I know many don’t like Kirksey, but with the emergence of Cashman, he would be a backup, which I think suits him just fine. Littleton has been surprising in the sense that I have not heard a single peep about him from camp from anyone. For now I have him on the roster, but he is at risk of being usurped by one of the other three rostered LBs- Garrett Wallow, Jake Hansen, and Neville Hewitt. Hansen is the most likely of the three to make it, in my opinion.

DB (9):

CB (5): Derek Stingley Jr., Steven Nelson, Desmond King II, Tavierre Thomas, Shaquill Griffin

I wasn’t sure if only having 9 DB rostered was okay, so I checked to see what the Texans and 49ers did last year, and both only had 9 DBs after cutting down the roster to 53. So I guess it must be fine! King and Thomas are both best suited for the slot and are competing to start there. Shaquill Griffin has been okay, so I think his spot is safe. I am nervous about only having one backup who is best suited to play outside, but none of the other rostered corners have really stood out, so it is what it is.

Safety (4): Jimmie Ward, Jalen Pitre, M.J. Stewart, Eric Murray

Murray makes the roster thanks to there not being very much competition behind him. I really like Brandon Hill, but he’s missed the entire camp with an injury. He’ll likely be stashed on IR or be placed on the practice squad. I don’t think an injured 7th rounder is at much risk of being nabbed by another team.

SPECIALISTS (3):

K: Ka'imi Fairbairn P: Cameron Johnston LS: Jon Weeks

Yeah… I don’t think there will be much debate here on the specialists.