Not a single snap of the 2021 season has been played yet, so all we really have to go off of when determining a team's potential is what it did last season and the perception of how it improved or declined since. While power rankings don't mean much early in the offseason, with training camps coming to a close and the preseason about to kick off, there is more to go off of.
Dan Hanzus of NFL Media released NFL.com's latest power rankings and, as expected, the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers own the top spot. Right behind them are the Super Bowl runner-up Kansas City Chiefs.
Where do the San Francisco 49ers fall within the ranking? At No. 9, the same spot Hanzus had the team in May. The placement makes the Niners the fifth-highest ranked NFC team and, somewhat shockingly, the third-highest ranked NFC West squad.
Yes, Hanzus lists the Los Angeles Rams (6) and even the Seattle Seahawks (7) higher. The Around the NFL writer doesn't share an explanation for why the 49ers fall behind their division rivals, instead opting to comment on major storylines for each team within the subjective ranking.
Hanzus' focus for the 49ers is the quarterback situation, the dominant storyline during training camp despite head coach Kyle Shanahan repeatedly declaring there is no quarterback competition between veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Trey Lance.
"Trey Lance, the third overall pick in April's draft, easily outplayed Jimmy Garoppolo in the early stages of camp," wrote Hanzus, "starting speculation that Kyle Shanahan will turn to his rookie quarterback sooner rather than later. For the time being, Shanahan will only allow that he plans to play Lance 'situationally' as a rookie, but this is starting to feel like a head coach protecting an incumbent veteran from the inevitable. Consider it an upset if Jimmy G makes it to October with the QB1 gig."
While many wonder how long Garoppolo can hold off Lance, there is little doubt that Garoppolo will be the starter come Week 1. However, the veteran quarterback has made it out of September as the starter just once during his NFL career, suffering a shoulder injury during Week 2 while with the New England Patriots in 2016, an ACL injury during Week 3 in 2018, and making it to Week 2 last season before being sidelined with a high-ankle sprain.
The whole 49ers roster was injury-plagued, though, and the team limped its way to a 6-10 record. Nevertheless, coaches and players hope for better luck in 2021, improving the team's chances of competing within its strong division.
The fourth NFC West team, the Arizona Cardinals, ranks No. 18 on Hanzus' list.