NFL Media analyst Adam Rank released his "State of the Franchise" for the San Francisco 49ers. You can find it here. I'll wait because I know you probably just clicked on it to quickly see if Rank once again predicted three wins for the team.
Rank has done a good job of owning his mistake from last year and isn't about to underestimate the Kyle Shanahan-led squad in 2020.
"I doubted you last year, and you made me eat my words," writes Rank. "I'm sure you'd love for me to come disrespect you again. But I can't do that. The 49ers have one of the best rosters in football. You have great football minds leading you, both on the field and in the front office. It's all set up for you. The question is, can this team take the next step? I'll tell you, I'm done doubting it."
Within his extensive offseason breakdown of the 49ers, Rank predicts the team's best player for the upcoming season, and it is defensive end Nick Bosa. In fact, the analyst believes the second-year player has a good chance to be named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"There were high expectations for Bosa coming into the league as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft," wrote Rank, "because his brother Joey Bosa had been so dominant for the Los Angeles Chargers. And then Nick looked even better than Joey, ranking fourth in the league in quarterback pressures as a rookie. If he's healthy and not the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, I'm going to be shocked."
Rank also envisions wide receiver Deebo Samuel being the team's breakout star during the upcoming season, which seems like a fairly safe bet.
The analyst thinks so highly of San Francisco this year that he calls the team the favorite to not only reach Super Bowl LV but win the big game this time around. It won't be easy, though.
"Nobody is doubting the 49ers this season," explains Rank. "San Francisco will be the favorite to not only go to the Super Bowl, but to win it. The Niners are no longer that 4-12 underdog. It's going to be a big test, knowing that every team is going to circle the calendar wherever San Francisco appears."
Although, Rank does note that there have been several teams to suffer a Super Bowl hangover in recent years, and is curious to see which direction the 49ers' season goes after losing Super Bowl LIV.
Click here to read Rank's entire "State of the Franchise" for the 49ers.