When the 49ers hold their first minicamp in May, the depth chart could look something like this. With more free-agent departures than signings - Ted Ginn was the latest to go, to Carolina - the 49ers definitely have some holes to fill.
That is by design. Unlike last year's class, the 49ers want their 2013 draft picks to have a big impact. To do that there must be an opportunity for them to play. There are immediate openings and roles at half a dozen spots. It's also worth noting that some players from the 2012 class - Joe Looney, Darius Fleming, Trenton Robinson, Cam Johnson, even A.J. Jenkins - are de facto rookies because they played so little last year.
* denotes player who will be injured during the spring.
Offense
WR Anquan Boldin, A.J. Jenkins, Ricardo Lockette, Joe Hastings, Chad Hall
TE Vernon Davis, Garrett Celek, draft pick 4, Demarcus Dobbs
QB: Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien, draft pick 3
LT: Joe Staley, Alex Boone, Al Netter
LG: Mike Iupati, Joe Looney, Wayne Tribue
C: Jonathan Goodwin, Daniel Kilgore, Joe Looney
RG: Alex Boone, Joe Looney, Al Netter
RT: Anthony Davis, Alex Boone, Kenny Wiggins,
RB: Frank Gore, LaMichael James, *Kendall Hunter, Anthony Dixon, Jewel Hampton
FB: Bruce Miller, Anthony Dixon, Will Tukuafu
WR: Michael Crabtree, *Mario Manningham, *Kyle Williams, Marlon Moore draft pick 6
Defense
LDE: Ray McDonald, Will Tukuafu, Tony Jerod-Eddie
NT: Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams, Lamar Divens
RDE: *Justin Smith, Demarcus Dobbs, draft pick 1
LOLB: Ahmad Brooks, Darius Fleming
LILB: Patrick Willis, Michael Wilhoite, Nate Stupar
RILB: NaVorro Bowman, Dan Skuta
ROLB: *Aldon Smith, Parys Haralson, Cam Johnson
LCB: Carlos Rogers, Perrish Cox, draft pick 5
RCB: Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver, Tramaine Brock
SCB: Carlos Rogers, Perrish Cox, Michael Thomas
FS: Craig Dahl, C.J. Spillman, Trenton Robinson, draft pick 2
SS: Donte Whitner, Darcel McBath, Michael Thomas
Special teams
PR: *Kyle Williams, LaMichael James, Perrish Cox, Marlon Moore, A.J. Jenkins
KR: LaMichael James, *Kendall Hunter, Marlon Moore
K: Phil Dawson, draft pick 7
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
* Neither Larry Grant nor Tavares Gooden has seen much action on the free-agent market, and either -- or both -- could be back on a minimum-salary deal in 2013.
-- Matt Barrows
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