On Monday August 11, 2025, expert San Francisco 49ers insider Matt Maiocco predicted tight end Ross Dwelley would be released in his 53-man roster prediction following the 49ers’ first preseason game.
Maiocco thinks the 49ers will let Dwelley, 30, go in favor of younger tight ends Brayden Willis, 25, and Jake Tonges, 26.
The 49ers brought Dwelley back on a one-year deal in May 2025 after he spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s a good personal friend of 49ers superstar tight end George Kittle.
49ers fans were excited to see a player who helped San Francisco compete for Super Bowls back on the roster, so it would certainly be sad for them to see him let go once again.
Dwelley’s Career In San Francisco
Dwelley spent six seasons, from 2018-2023, in a 49ers uniform. He was originally signed by the Niners back in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of San Diego.
Dwelley led the entire FCS in tight end touchdowns with 10 in his 2017 senior season, earning the 49ers’ attention.
His best season as a 49ers was 2020, when he hauled in 19 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. Overall in his 49ers career, he has racked up 518 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Not a crazy prolific career, but Dwelley has been a dependable tight end for many years in San Francisco. He has made 17 starts over the years and even filled in at fullback when star Kyle Juszczyk has dealt with injuries.
Ross the Boss also knows the 49ers offense and locker room inside and out, and is still only 30 years old. He seems like the perfect veteran depth option for the Niners, which makes it surprising to see that Maiocco thinks he’ll be on the chopping block.
But Maiocco has been covering the 49ers for decades, so his predictions are as good as anybody’s.
The Other TE Options
George Kittle is going to start at tight end for the 49ers, and free-agent signing Luke Farrell is going to be his backup. That much is a given.
But where Brayden Willis, Jake Tonges and Ross Dwelley will fall on the depth chart is still being sorted out.
Maiocco predicts that the 49ers will keep Willis as the third stringer and Tonges as the fourth stringer while cutting Dwelley. Maiocco also mentioned that the 49ers will heavily consider how each player projects to contribute on special teams. So pay attention to that as this position battle unfolds.
Willis has played in 17 games for the Niners over two seasons (2023 and 2024). He has yet to record an NFL catch.
Tonges played in 16 games for San Francisco in 2024 and didn’t record a catch, but did have two tackles. Tonges also played in 4 games for the Chicago Bears back in 2022.
It seems more likely that the 49ers keep Dwelley and Tonges, to have a combination of veteran experience, youth and knowledge of the 49er offense on the depth chart.
But the rest of training camp and the preseason is really what’s going to determine who makes the cut.
49ers fans, do you think the team should keep Ross Dwelley?
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