I would like to see Johnson, Swift, and Steele on the roster as tight ends. The drafting of Anelli seems to have been a bit of a reach, but he may be useful as a practice team member or develop skills as a long snapper. I don't feel that there is any justification for giving up a precious roster spot to someone like Brian Jennings, who only fulfills this function, and earns more money every year according to league rules. Perhaps the arcane art of long snapping might be picked up by the highly athletic Ben Steele. He's one of the reasons that I'm writing this. Far from being relegated to also-ran status, he appears to me, based on what I saw of his performance this year in Europe, to be an all around tight end in terms of size, athleticism, and excellent pass catching qualities. He has great hands, and he reminds me of Carolina's Wesely Walls(remember when, after selecting him in the first round, the Forty Niners decided he was too slow?). The one thing we need to be sure of is that the team never gets stuck with a Chad Fann as the one back-up TE. Blocking such as his, Phillips' and the right tackle position ended Steve Young's career four years before that needed to happen due to age.

With Jonas Lewis out of the picture, Jamal Robertson will most likely be the sixth running back and kick off return man. I'm not entirely sold on him, but he does have great broken field running ability. It appears that the fifth receiver position will go to one of the obscure speed burners, Jackson, Brown, and Jennings, brought in by the team. Scott Cloman, who also played as an NFL Europe starter, at 6'3, as the good hands and route running ability of a middle range receiver that ought to win him some serious consideration. I agree with everyone who has argued for Ben Lynch’s return. It should be remembered that he actually played quite a bit at the OT position in his rookie year: so he isn’t really a one-trick pony. With him on board, the offensive line will have quality depth for the first time in years. The only other unsettled issue seems to be who plays Guard on one side of the reserve line: Ward or Costa?

After the starting four defensive linemen, the only two sure things are Messers, Moran, and Flannigan. It might profit Josh Shaw to stay out a year to fully heal his college injury. We are not particularly deep at the center of the line, which would argue for keeping Reggie McGrew or paying attention to the waiver wire. Unless John Schlecht has improved tremendously, I don't think he'll last. I've never like Chike Okeafor: let’s cut him and CB Anthony Parker and forget about the entirety of Bill Walsh's god-awful first comeback draft. Jerome Davis, of NFL Europe acclaim is a hugely strong two-hundred and ninety pound defensive end. His lateral moves are not great, but straight ahead he can shed blocks big time.

In many ways, the safety position presents the most difficulties. Parrish, Bronson, and Curtis seem like sure things. I can't see the team blowing off a player of such ability as Al Blades either. Ronnie Heard, who apparently can serve as a fifth cornerback as well, should also make the team. That leaves John Keith out in the cold. The same goes for a talented linebacker like Cornelius Anthony, who also had success in Europe this spring. Peterson, Smith, Ulbrich, Winborn, Rasheed and Stewart are all excellent linebackers, each one with an upside.

I'm going to close by mentioning a few quality players on the even more over-stocked Oakland Raiders. Let those fools stay with the old guys the Niners dropped years ago(and I'm not talking about the ageless Jerry Rice).Yesterday, The Chronicle indicated that Doug Jolley might spend the first year on the practice squad, given the presence of Roland Williams, Mondreal Fulcher Jeremy Brigham, and Brandon Christenson. Well, this superb tight end drafted on the second round out of BYU will have to clear waivers first, and the Forty Niners would be foolish to pass on him. Marcus Knight played well for them at wide receiver in Europe this year, but he too will probably be a cut, as will a good cornerback named Derek Combs and veteran safety Calvin Branch. Branch played both offense and defense at Colorado State. It's my opinion that he could be converted into am excellent receiver. With such talent available in a neighboring team, why not trade some of the Forty Niner marginals like Keith, Schelcht, McGrew, Okeafor, and particularly, Anthony(the Raiders being comparatively weak at linebacker) for some of the aforementioned unlikely Raiders.