With the calendar flipping to July, all 32 NFL teams will be gearing up for training camp, which gets underway later this month.
Training camp and preseason provide rookies and veterans one more opportunity to impress the coaching staff in hopes of making the 53-man roster. The San Francisco 49ers will have a few position battles worth paying attention to over the next several weeks.
At the same time, several ex-49er players who left in free agency to sign one-year deals with new teams will be fighting to win a spot on their respective team’s 53-man roster. For some of these former 49ers, they will have an easier path towards that goal.
Meanwhile, other ex-49ers, such as veteran cornerback Nick McCloud, have an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster with the Chicago Bears, given the talent ahead of him in the CB room.
Ex-49ers CB Nick McCloud Could Be on Chopping Block Before Training Camp
The 26-year-old McCloud signed a one-year, $1.32 million deal with the Bears in March after he spent last season with the New York Giants and the 49ers.
The veteran cornerback joined the 49ers on November 12, 2024, signing to their practice squad after the Giants released him the week prior. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound defensive back wasn’t on the taxi squad for long as the 49ers signed him to the active roster on Nov. 30.
McCloud appeared in eight games for the 49ers, spending most of his time on special teams (97 snaps compared to 54 on defense). While he didn’t start for the 49ers, McCloud showed in New York that he could be a solid spot starter when called upon.
However, it's unlikely that the Bears will need that as they have their starting cornerbacks locked in Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon.
Chicago also has Terrell Smith, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, rookie Zah Frazier (fifth-round pick), and Josh Blackwell. Now, what could work in McCloud’s favor is that the Bears have a new coaching staff taking over, especially on defense, with Dennis Allen as the new DC.
But it’s guaranteed that he’ll win a spot as the ex-49er is also competing with fellow veterans Shaun Wade and Nahshon Wright, who are also on one-year deals.
Kevin Fishbain and Adams Jahns of The Athletic didn’t have McCloud making the 53-man roster in their latest roster projection on Jun. 16. However, Fishbain mentioned that the ex-49er could be a factor if he plays well on special teams.
That said, the numbers game doesn’t look for the former 49ers defensive back as we get ready for training camp. McCloud likely knows what he needs to do to win a job, but with the talent in the room, the Bears could easily use his spot on the roster for another position of need.