The biggest issue for Pearsall has been adapting to the timing-specific demands of Shanahan’s system. The 49ers offense is designed around precision rather than improvisation. Receivers are expected to break their routes at exact depths, on exact steps, with exact spacing relative to underneath defenders, linebackers and the quarterback’s progressions. Even highly talented rookies often struggle with this—the system famously challenged Brandon Aiyuk during his early years, and it has frustrated countless young receivers. Pearsall has found that reality firsthand. Film analysis shows several plays where he is half a step late on a break or slightly inside of his landmark, small details that completely change route spacing. When Purdy progresses through reads, even small timing errors lead to the route being skipped entirely. This phenomenon makes it difficult for any rookie to establish trust with the quarterback.

Another issue has been the depth chart. Aiyuk and Samuel dominate targets. Jauan Jennings plays critical possession snaps. Ronnie Bell and Chris Conley earned situational opportunities due to their blocking and situational awareness. Pearsall has simply not displaced anyone. And because Shanahan heavily leverages personnel grouping stability, it becomes harder for a rookie receiver to gain momentum unless injuries force their hand.

Still, this should not be interpreted as a sign of long-term failure. Pearsall’s athletic and technical traits are clear. When used, his ball tracking and strong hands remain evident. But heading into the bye week, it is undeniable that Pearsall has not delivered the early impact expected of a first-round pick. For a team dealing with constant conversation about Aiyuk’s future, the hope was that Pearsall would accelerate the transition. Instead, he remains firmly a developmental piece awaiting a larger role.

Renardo Green: A Physical Corner Experiencing the Realities of an NFL Learning Curve

Rookie cornerbacks rarely thrive immediately—especially in complex defensive systems with shifting match rules, varied coverage shells and heavy communication responsibilities. Renardo Green entered the season as someone the 49ers believed could contribute early due to his competitiveness, physicality and strong tape at Florida State. But the transition to the NFL has been steep, and his early performance reflects the typical struggles of rookie corners, compounded by the challenge of learning new terminology and adjusting to faster, more deceptive route runners.

Green’s biggest issue has been consistency in zone spacing. The 49ers run frequent pattern-match coverage, which requires corners to read route stems, pass off responsibilities and adjust leverage on the fly. Green occasionally hesitates or reacts late to in-breaking routes, giving up soft completions in the middle of the field. His transitions from backpedal to plant step sometimes show small delays that become major windows for NFL-caliber quarterbacks. Offenses have targeted him in limited snaps, particularly on third down, often isolating him through motion and using double moves or pivot routes to exploit his aggressiveness.

Tackling was one of Green’s strengths in college, but it has not translated early. He has missed several open-field tackles by taking over-aggressive angles or misjudging speed. His physicality remains a positive trait, but he has not yet learned when to throttle down and when to explode. This shows up in run support as well, where Green sometimes arrives too shallow, allowing runners to bounce outside.

The other challenge is simply the competition around him. Charvarius Ward is entrenched as the CB1. Deommodore Lenoir locked down the slot. Ambry Thomas and Isaac Yiadom have experience in the system. Green has not clearly outperformed any of them. Cornerback is difficult to rotate compared to other positions, so breaking into the lineup requires earning trust quickly—something Green has not yet done.

The 49ers still like his upside. His athletic traits remain strong. His competitiveness is unquestioned. But heading into the bye week, Green looks like a rookie learning the pace of the league rather than someone pushing for a significant defensive role. His current trajectory places him as a special-teams contributor while the coaching staff works to refine his technique and prepare him for a future opportunity.

Isaac Guerendo: Elite Athleticism Still Searching for Functional NFL Utility

The selection of Isaac Guerendo was one of the most intriguing moves of the 49ers’ draft. His athletic profile—highlighted by a stunning 4.33 forty-yard dash and elite explosion scores—made him one of the most physically impressive running backs of the entire class. The 49ers envisioned him as a change-of-pace threat capable of hitting explosive plays on outside-zone concepts or creating mismatch opportunities as a receiving option. Instead, Guerendo has spent most of the season as a depth piece behind Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason, with minimal meaningful usage.

The primary issue has been Guerendo’s vision. Shanahan’s scheme places immense pressure on running backs to make rapid, disciplined reads. The outside-zone system requires pressing the line of scrimmage, diagnosing leverage and making decisive one-cut movements. Guerendo’s college tape suggested he might need time developing these traits, and that reality has been confirmed early in the season. He occasionally hesitates behind the line, unsure whether to bounce or cut inside, resulting in negative plays. When he does decide, he sometimes overcommits to outside lanes, allowing defenders to flow and compress angles.

Pass protection has been an additional limitation. The 49ers cannot risk exposing Brock Purdy to free rushers, so backs who misread blitz pickups are unlikely to earn expanded roles. Guerendo has improved gradually, but his recognition is still slower than veteran expectations. Footwork during pickup is inconsistent, and he occasionally lunges rather than anchoring under control.

Guerendo’s raw speed remains undeniable. When he reaches the second level, he is dangerous. His straight-line explosiveness is unmatched in the running back room. But in Shanahan’s system, athleticism is only valuable if married to discipline, vision and anticipation. Until Guerendo develops those traits, he will remain a reserve rather than a rotation-changer.

The hope is that the bye week provides him with additional reps and film-study opportunities to refine his reads. Long-term, the team still views him as someone who could eventually carve out a Raheem Mostert-like role. But heading into the break, Guerendo is more athlete than polished runner, and his overall impact has been disappointing relative to the expectations that accompanied his draft selection.

Malik Mustapha: A Safety With All the Tools but Not Yet the Reliability

Malik Mustapha entered the league with a reputation as one of the most violent, high-energy safeties in college football. His downhill explosiveness, play speed and striking power made him an attractive project for the 49ers’ defensive staff, especially as a player who could develop into a future starter. But Mustapha’s rookie season has been marred by inconsistency in coverage, missed assignments and struggles adjusting to NFL route complexity.

The biggest issue for Mustapha has been transitioning from college defensive schemes into the 49ers’ coverage system. In college, much of his responsibility revolved around crashing downhill, reacting to quarterback movement and playing aggressively in the box. The NFL requires far more nuance. Safeties in the 49ers’ system must read route combinations, communicate pre-snap alignment changes and rotate into high-leverage zones depending on offensive formation. Mustapha has been late recognizing deep-intermediate concepts and occasionally bites too aggressively on play-action, opening gaps behind him. These mistakes are expected from young safeties, but they limit his ability to see the field defensively.

Tackling, ironically, has also been a mixed bag. Mustapha arrives at full speed, but his angles have been inconsistent, leading to missed opportunities or poor wrapping technique. He has not yet mastered the tempo necessary to throttle down in space, something elite NFL safeties learn over time.

The 49ers still believe in Mustapha’s long-term potential. His traits are strong. His explosiveness stands out. His energy is infectious. But as of the bye week, Mustapha remains a developmental safety with minimal defensive impact and only sporadic special-teams value. Expectations were never that he would start this season, but even rotational contributions have been limited.

Jarrett Kingston: Positional Versatility Without NFL-Ready Power or Technique

Jarrett Kingston was drafted for his versatility. The 49ers love offensive linemen who can play multiple spots because it maximizes roster flexibility. Kingston showed guard-tackle versatility at USC and looked like someone who could develop into a swing lineman. But early in his rookie year, Kingston has struggled with anchor strength, leverage consistency and adjustments to NFL power.

The NFL is unforgiving for offensive linemen who lack functional strength. Kingston has been overwhelmed at times in practice and limited live reps, particularly by bull rushers and multi-move interior defenders. He plays with good effort and solid hand placement, but defenders are able to compress him backward into the pocket too easily. That alone prevents the 49ers from trusting him in game situations. Pass protection footwork remains a work in progress, especially when handling NFL-level counters or stunts.

Run blocking has shown some promise. Kingston’s athleticism and movement skills fit the 49ers’ wide-zone foundations. But because he lacks refined core strength and consistent pad level, he does not generate the displacement required to create lanes against heavier fronts.

The 49ers view Kingston as a long-term project rather than someone who can be a sixth or seventh lineman immediately. His disappointing early development does not doom his future, but it does reinforce that the team cannot rely on him for immediate depth.

Conclusion: A Rookie Class Still Searching for Its Identity as the Bye Week Arrives

The 49ers do not typically demand instant production from rookies. Their system is complex. Their roster is experienced. Their expectations are championship-level. But even operating within that context, this rookie class has not provided the depth, stability or playmaking optimism that many hoped for entering the season. Pearsall has flashed but not yet claimed a meaningful role. Renardo Green is battling the classic rookie corner learning curve. Isaac Guerendo remains a raw athlete rather than a trusted ball carrier. Malik Mustapha is a developmental safety still learning defensive structure. Jarrett Kingston is long-term depth, not immediate support.