Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Silver explains why the 49ers should be the favorite in the NFC West
Mar 16, 2021 at 1:24 PM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Michael Silver sees the San Francisco 49ers' 2020 season as an anomaly. The fanbase hopes he is correct. Nothing would please its members more during the upcoming season than to see a team that more resembles the 2019 squad rather than the injury-plagued squad from last season.
"I think the 49ers are the favorite, not only in the NFC West but in the NFC," Silver said on NFL Network, much to the surprise of colleagues Judy Battista, Jeffri Chadiha, and Rhett Lewis. "And in the NFC West, I don't think it's close."
As for the division-rivals Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, Silver feels those teams have their own questions to answer and shouldn't automatically be considered better than a Kyle Shanahan roster that looked awfully impressive not too long ago.
"I know people are excited about
Matthew Stafford," Silver commented. "He better be great for what they gave up to get him. Les Snead, the general manager, talked the other day about superpowers. Let's hope that Matthew Stafford has many, many superpowers that thus far have produced zero playoff victories in 12 seasons."
Silver goes on to describe the situation with Seattle and
Russell Wilson as "a mess." Even if the quarterback returns, there will be some damage control to undergo.
"He basically threw offensive lineman under the bus, in a lot of people's eyes," Silver explained. "I think there could be some awkward moments in that locker room, and obviously, he and Pete Carroll have some bridging of their relationship to do.
"The 49ers, to me, are very much like the team that came very, very close to winning the Super Bowl, and I do write off last year to the insane wave of injuries they experienced. I know they might lose some guys. You get
Nick Bosa back healthy, if Jimmy Garoppolo ends up being the quarterback and can stay healthy, you see them trying to fortify what they have.
"They re-signed fullback
Kyle Juszczyk, which is huge. They're trying to get
Trent Williams back. I think the 49ers are going to be a force to be reckoned with, and they start the NFC West Derby right now on the very top."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Silver: New 49ers intel reveals potential Brandon Aiyuk trade still in play
When asked about the possibility of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk not being on the San Francisco 49ers roster on Friday morning, general manager John Lynch responded, "I wouldn't anticipate that."
Lynch assured reporters that signing Aiyuk to a long-term extension is a priority, stating, "And our wish is that he's here and a part of the Niners for the rest of his career. We're working through that."
While Lynch didn't elaborate on the conversations occurring behind closed doors, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that a potential trade remains a
No Huddle Podcast: 49ers Offseason Musings With Legendary Columnist Mike Silver
(Episode 330) — Legendary columnist Mike Silver joins the show to discuss the Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors and trade value, priorities in the secondary, Mike's book, and more! You can read Mike's work at the San Francisco Chronicle.
The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe!
You can watch the interview below.
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from
Mike Silver on how Deebo Samuel's contract might be the starting point for a Brandon Aiyuk extension
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
Why one analyst is worried for Brock Purdy if 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
"I
