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The NFLPA and the NFL have a
new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in place that will run through the 2030 season. With it comes the likely expansion of the regular season to a 17-game schedule for each club. That, however, isn't expected until sometime after the 2020 season.
What could likely occur immediately, and wasn't necessarily contingent on the passing of a new CBA, is the expansion of the NFL playoffs from 12 to 14 total teams. That would mean an extra team per conference. It would also mean that, moving forward, only one team per conference will earn a first-round bye.
Following the 2019 season, the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs all earned first-round byes within their respective conferences. Under the new rules, the Packers and Chiefs would have played during the Wild-card round while the 49ers and Ravens would have been the only teams with playoff bye weeks.
It would have also meant that the Los Angeles Rams (9-7) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) would have snuck into postseason play as No. 7 seeds within their respective conferences.
Below is what the 2019 playoffs would have looked like under the new expanded format.
* Denotes a division winner
NFC First-Round Bye:
San Francisco 49ers* (1 seed, 13-3)
The 49ers would have played the lowest-seeded winner from the NFC Wild-card round.
NFC Wild-Card Round:
Los Angeles Rams (7 seed, 9-7) at Green Bay Packers* (2 seed, 13-3)
Minnesota Vikings (6 seed, 10-6) at New Orleans Saints* (3 seed, 13-3)
Seattle Seahawks (5 seed, 11-5) at Philadelphia Eagles* (4 seed, 9-7)
AFC First-Round Bye:
Baltimore Ravens* (1 seed, 14-2)
The Ravens would have played the lowest-seeded winner from the AFC Wild-card round.
AFC Wild-Card Round:
Pittsburgh Steelers (7 seed, 8-8) at Kansas City Chiefs* (2 seed, 12-4)
Tennessee Titans (6 seed, 9-7) at New England Patriots* (3 seed, 12-4)
Buffalo Bills (5 seed, 10-6) at Houston Texans* (4 seed, 10-6)
As expected, the most significant storyline surrounding the San Francisco 49ers this offseason revolves around the contract negotiations with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. There hasn't been much official chatter on that front aside from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan assuring reporters that every effort is being made to retain Aiyuk.
That hasn't stopped the rampant speculation from the media, with reports of interest from teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as former teammate
Just when you thought the San Francisco 49ers and Tom Brady storylines had concluded, the future Hall of Fame quarterback drops another tidbit that sparks discussion. During an episode of "DeepCut with VicBlends," the host asked Brady what he would do if the NFL came calling once again.
VicBlends inquired if Brady would consider returning to the football field if a playoff-bound team like the 49ers needed him.
"I'm not opposed to it," Brady said, per Jordan Mendoza of USA Today. "I don't know if they're gonna let me if I become an owner an NFL team. I don't know, I'm always gonna be in good shape, always be able to
Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team revealed his latest mock draft, which goes seven rounds deep and projects every selection for every NFL team. While most predict that the San Francisco 49ers will add an offensive lineman with their first selection, No. 31 overall, Mosher has the Bay Area team going in a different direction.
The writer and analyst has the Niners selecting former UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round.
"It wouldn't be a shock to see Laiatu Latu fall in the draft due to his medical history, but he is too good of a value to pass up here at No. 31," Mosher wrote. "The San Francisco 49ers have been searching for the right pass
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
