Zachary Thomas, an offensive lineman who just inked a Reserve/Future contract with the San Francisco 49ers back on January 21, got the axe on Friday afternoon. The team announced they waived Thomas, a move that looks pretty telling for anyone paying attention to the trenches as training camp looms.
Not Enough Snaps for Thomas in Santa Clara
Look, Thomas has been a journeyman since being a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He’s bounced around, spending time with the Bears, Rams, Patriots, and Colts, even hitting the Texans’ practice squad before getting released on December 30. So, it’s not like he’s a household name, but signing him in January only to cut him mid-July without him playing a single snap since? That feels like a head-scratcher. He did get 32 snaps with the Rams in 2023 and 96 with the Patriots that same year, with most of those coming in just two games. He was listed as a guard, wearing No. 61, but he also played offensive tackle. It’s unclear what the 49ers actually thought they had in him, honestly.
The O-Line Competition Is heating Up
This waiver might be a pretty clear sign the 49ers don’t view Thomas as having enough snaps to go around once training camp kicks off. Or, maybe they just figured he’d be good enough to stick on the practice squad. Either way, it shows you how tight the competition is going to be upfront for them. Ten offensive linemen are currently projected to make the roster, and that’s already a stacked room. We’re talking about Trent Williams, Connor Colby, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Robert Jones, Vederian Lowe, Brett Toth, Carver Willis, and Enrique Cruz Jr. And if that’s not enough, guys like Nick Zakelj, Drae Nugent, and Austen Pleasants are already on the outside looking in for training camp. It’s not even a lock that the 49ers end up keeping all ten linemen, meaning the battle for those spots will be absolutely brutal.
With Thomas out of the picture, the message to those remaining linemen is crystal clear: every single rep in training camp is going to count. Whoever wants a spot on that 49ers roster needs to show up ready to dominate, because there are no guarantees, especially with a crowded offensive line room.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply