49ers vs. Chiefs: Game preview with Niners Noise

What are the chances of Vance McDonald making the final roster?

At this point with Vance McDonald, I’d say it’s about 50-50. McDonald’s trade value is minimal, and he doesn’t exactly have the most friendly contract to move. That will turn teams away. It’s entirely possible the Niners cut him — cap space isn’t a concern — and go with a completely remade tight end crop this season. The only problem is none of this group has truly distinguished or separated themselves from the rest of the pack. If you see one of San Francisco’s rookie tight ends, George Kittle or Cole Hikutini, start to make some serious strides before Week 1 of the regular season, McDonald’s chances get slimmer.

Any predictions on the outcome/score?

Gosh, that’s tough. Perhaps the score from the first quarter matters when the biggest number of first-team players are seeing the field. I could see the Niners offense struggle to find some headway until the second half, and I’m not overly familiar with the depth players on the Chiefs roster, especially on defense. But for the heck of it, let’s go with 24-17 in favor of the Niners (yes, I’m biased).

Bonus: Do you guys miss Alex Smith at all?

Some fans miss Alex Smith. My wife is one of them. But I think most Niner fans have let that ship sail. It’s been four years since the 49ers decided Colin Kaepernick was their guy. We can argue whether or not that was the right move, with hindsight as a guide, but it made perfect sense at the time. Everyone in the league was claiming Kap was the NFL’s future, not Smith. Most fans don’t hold grudges against Smith, though. I think people realize he was the product of a poor situation in Santa Clara that wasn’t righted until former head coach Jim Harbaugh got into town.