Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers
Where the 49ers landed in power rankings ahead of Week 1
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to embark on an unprecedented 2020 season in what the team has dubbed a "Legendary Revenge Tour." The last time the 49ers were seen on the football field, they were suffering a fourth-quarter collapse at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
The players and coaches hope to make amends for that.
San Francisco kicks off its regular season by hosting the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium during Week 1. Much of last season's Super Bowl roster returns, with the exception of veterans Joe Staley, DeForest Buckner, and Emmanuel Sanders. The team has added on, though, with additions like
Trent Williams,
Javon Kinlaw, and
Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers also added Jordan Reed to complement their All-Pro tight end,
George Kittle.
Below is a sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each.
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 2
Previous rank: N/A
"
Deebo Samuel is working his way back from a broken foot.
Richie James Jr. missed camp with a broken wrist. First-round pick Brandon Aiyuk is week-to-week with a hamstring injury.
Jalen Hurd tore his ACL. Tavon Austin hit IR with his own knee issue. Emmanuel Sanders exited via free agency, and
Travis Benjamin was a COVID-19 opt-out. Right about now, George Kittle is probably wondering what kind of damage he can do on Sundays while being quintuple-teamed." — Dan Hanzus
ESPN
Current Ranking: 3
Previous rank: N/A
"Rare is the team that can lose a Super Bowl, return the next year and win the Lombardi Trophy. In fact, it has happened only three times. But the Niners believe they can do it in large part because they return almost all of their starters and coaching staff in a season when continuity might be more valuable than ever." — Nick Wagoner
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 4
Previous rank: N/A
"The Niners appear to have a ready-made replacement (for Buckner) in first-round rookie Javon Kinlaw. But as talented as he may be, he's never played in an NFL game. In a loaded NFC West, the 49ers can't afford for Kinlaw to be anything other than a quick study." — NFL Staff
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 4
Previous rank: N/A
"Getting back to the Super Bowl after losing it is a big challenge. Kyle Shanahan has the makeup to get it done, but it won't be easy. Their season will be all about the growth of
Jimmy Garoppolo." — Pete Prisco
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 4
Previous rank: N/A
"Will there be a Super Bowl hangover in the Bay Area? Whether our voters see one coming or not, they mostly gave the defending NFC champions the respect they earned last year." — The MMQB Staff
USA Today
Current Ranking: 4
Previous rank: N/A
"Really would have been fun to watch these (already legendary) Trent Williams-
Nick Bosa training camp battles. The Niners should be better because of them." — Nate Davis
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers GM John Lynch ranked No. 9 in power rankings
By David Bonilla
Apr 16, 2021
In the span of a couple of years, general manager John Lynch helped turn around one of the most talent-deprived rosters in the league and build a contender. That roster made it to the Super Bowl during its 2019 campaign. That's pretty impressive, and it was an effort good enough to contribute to Lynch being ranked No. 9 in Gregg Rosenthal's recent general manager power rankings for NFL.com.
Sure, Lynch and company have made some blunders along the way. There were much better options than selecting defensive lineman Solomon Thomas or linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round of their first draft in 2017. But that same draft also saw San Francisco adding All-Pro tight end
49ers great Jerry Rice posts message for Justin Fields ahead of second pro day
By David Bonilla
Apr 14, 2021
Former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields will work out in front of several NFL teams today, including the San Francisco 49ers. The New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots will also send representatives to the quarterback's second pro day in Columbus, Ohio.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will represent the 49ers.
Because NFL coaches will run it, the throwing session will have more of a feel of a private workout than a pro day and could raise Fields' stock in the eyes of Shanahan and the 49ers, who own the No. 3 overall pick.
Hall of Fame wide receiver and 49ers legend Jerry Rice had some words for the incoming rookie quarterback ahead of his workout (h/t to
My case for the 49ers to draft Justin Fields
By Tim Sprinkles
Apr 5, 2021
When the San Francisco 49ers were drafting at No. 12, there was a lot of speculation about which quarterback might fall and who that might be. The only quarterback who seemed to have a chance to fall to twelve was Mac Jones. However, the 49ers aren't selecting at twelve anymore because they took a huge swing and traded three first rounds picks to move up to pick at No. 3. This means there will likely be three of the consensus top-five quarterback prospects still on the board.
This is my case for Justin Fields.
Fields is a unique specimen at the quarterback position. Everyone on Twitter wants to pigeonhole Fields into a "type" of quarterback and what he could become in Shanahan's offense. Some say he's a runner who can also throw. Others say he's a slow
Mock Draft Roundup: The Mac Jones-to-49ers Chatter is Deafening
By Justin Wong
Apr 7, 2021
The 2021 NFL Draft is a three-day event from April 29th to May 1st that will be hosted in Cleveland, Ohio. A select number of draft prospects will be invited to Cleveland to walk across the stage and shake hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The NFL Draft will also feature draft prospects participating remotely across the country.
Last month, the 49ers arguably made their most aggressive move since trading Joe Montana, as they gave up multiple picks to jump from No. 12 to No. 3 in this year's NFL Draft. The first Mock Draft Roundup featured primarily defensive players but NFL pundits have now shifted their 49ers mock drafts to the quarterback position.
