The San Francisco 49ers were the most-hyped team in the NFL a year ago. This year, that title belongs to the Cleveland Browns. The 49ers finished last season with just four wins, but injuries played their part in how things turned out.
This offseason's hype surrounding the 49ers is a little more subdued. It's still there, but everyone is cautious with their expectations. Analysts know the potential on San Francisco's roster, but potential doesn't always translate into success.
NFL.com analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks went through their lists of the top three team stocks to buy. While Brooks went with Cleveland for his top pick, Jeremiah named San Francisco.
"We talk about it on this show all the time," Jeremiah said on the "Move the Sticks" podcast. "We believe great championship rosters are built up front, and that starts, really, with the defensive line. Can you hunt the quarterback? And first and foremost, you've got to have (someone at) the quarterback position.
"Who's improved more from last season to this season at those two spots than the 49ers? You get Jimmy Garoppolo, hopefully healthy, who is perfectly built to play in this Shanahan offense. We've seen that. Just get 16 games out of him, you're going to see more production from that position."
Jeremiah is also a fan of the weapons general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan added around Garoppolo. The team drafted two physical receivers in Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd, and already have one of the NFL's best tight ends in George Kittle.
Jeremiah continued, "And then defensive line-wise, who's made two greater additions than what they got with Nick Bosa and Dee Ford? I mean, elite-level pass rushers. I know Bosa is injured right now. He's going to be okay. He'll be ready to go for the start of the season. You put the dudes next to DeForest Buckner, one of the best young defensive linemen in the NFL, that's a stock I'm buying."
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