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The NFL released its full 2019 regular-season schedule on Wednesday. Fans immediately tried to look at the San Francisco 49ers schedule and predict what the team's final record might be. We've seen extremely optimistic fans jokingly (at least, I assume they were joking) predicting an undefeated season to pessimistic fans projecting an 0-9 start. And, of course, everything in between.
It's April, and the NFL Draft is still a week away. Making record predictions this early seems trifling. But what else are fans to do in the days following the schedule release?
What of the experts? What about the beat writers who follow the team regularly? How do they feel the 49ers will fare during the upcoming season? They know the team better than most, and some have already made their 2019 record predictions.
Let's take a look at what they foresee for the Niners in 2019. We focused on reporters who are around the team regularly.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic: 7-9
Barrows believes the 49ers defense has the best chance of improving via the upcoming draft. The team already added Dee Ford this offseason, and the addition of a rookie like
Nick Bosa could be significant.
"We're talking about a team that won four games last year," Barrows said this week on
95.7 The Game. "Even if there is a nice bounce that they get out of the draft, how many [more wins] are we talking about?"
Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee: 8-8
Like several other beat writers, Biderman didn't just make a record prediction, he
went week-by-week and predicted the outcome for each matchup on the 49ers' 16-game schedule. The result was a .500 finish, but Biderman has San Francisco going 2-1 out of the gate and before the bye. As for that brutal six-game finish to the season, he has the 49ers winning just two of those games.
Biderman has the 49ers beating the Bengals, Steelers, Redskins, Panthers, Falcons, and splitting each series with their NFC West opponents.
Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat: 6-10
Cohn also went week-by-week,
making predictions for each matchup. He has the 49ers entering their bye week with a 1-2 record. His wins come against the Bengals, Panthers, Falcons, the Seahawks at home, and a sweep of the Cardinals. Despite the six-win season, Cohn has the 49ers going through a nice little four-game win streak starting at Week 8.
Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group: 9-7
Inman and Barros were the only beat writers who
didn't go week-by-week with his prediction. In fact, Inman quickly snuck it into his recent schedule breakdown.
"Regardless of how the schedule plays out from a where-and-when standpoint, Year 3 of the Shanahan era comes with more urgency to win," wrote Inman. "He showed players a graphic this week of his roster overhaul and how only 10 players remain since 2016."
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area: 8-8
Maiocco very quickly went
week-by-week in a tweet. He predicts the 49ers to win their season opener on the road against the Buccaneers, their home opener against the Steelers, and then beating the Browns, Panthers, the Seahawks and Rams at home, and sweeping the Cardinals.
Nick Wagoner of ESPN: 8-8
Wagoner also
went week-by-week with his prediction. He has the 49ers beating the Bengals, Steelers, Panthers, Packers, Falcons, sweeping the Cardinals, and splitting the series against the Seahawks.
"The 49ers got no favors from the NFL in the early and latter parts of this schedule," wrote Wagoner. "San Francisco is slated to play five of its first eight games on the road, and though it will have an early bye in Week 4, it will be needed considering three of its first four trips east."
Things will change as the rest of free agency plays out. However, this mock draft tries to address the San Francisco 49ers' key needs and doesn't rely heavily on the moves that have already been made this week—just yet.
This mock draft was created without heavily factoring in the trade for defensive tackle Maliek Collins, so it still includes 11 selections. Another mock draft reflecting the most recent roster changes is coming soon.
Round 1, Pick 31
DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
Although the 49ers addressed the defensive tackle position in free agency, Byron Murphy II may be the best player at the 31. Murphy II's quick burst and get-off makes him one of the most dangerous defensive tackles in the draft. He will impact the
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tied the knot with his fiancée, Jenna Brandt, in a ceremony held in Des Moines, Iowa, this past weekend. The two met at Iowa State University, where Purdy played college football before being selected as the final overall pick by the 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Now named Jenna Purdy, the quarterback's wife shared photos of the newlyweds' joyful day via Instagram, expressing, "Best day of our lives. I get to call my best friend my HUSBAND for forever and
Although the defense finished as one of the top defenses in 2023 under Steve Wilks, the San Francisco 49ers struggled in a few areas, like stopping the run, finishing the pass rush with sacks, and surrendering explosive plays. In this editorial, we will look to find three defensive players to keep the 49ers defense among the elite.
The 49ers have 22 players scheduled to become free agents, 12 being defensive players. The team must address the edge, interior, and cornerback positions. Improving these three areas will keep the 49ers on top.
Three defensive ends—Chase Young, Randy Gregory, and Clelin Ferrell—are set to become free agents. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), the trio totaled 74 pressures (11 sacks, 17 hits, and 46 hurries). If the 49ers want to
The San Francisco 49ers likely aren't finished fortifying their defense and have reportedly expressed interest in bolstering their defensive backfield. If they require assistance making a significant move, one 49ers player is prepared to lend a helping hand.
Last week, the Buffalo Bills released All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White, who appears to be an ideal fit for San Francisco's needs opposite Charvarius Ward. Over the weekend, Ward took to social media to reveal that he and White share the same agent and that he is willing to nudge the free-agent defensive back in the right direction.
Ward described White as a "hand in glove