Podcast: 49ers OTAs And NFC QB Landscape →
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports


Where the 49ers rank among most complete teams in the NFL

May 22, 2023 at 9:45 AM--



The San Francisco 49ers have a plethora of talent. The roster is among the best in the league. You ask the players inside the locker room, and they'll tell you without a doubt that they are the best.

"We have a talented football team," wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk said in February. "We have, hands down, the best football team in the league. Hands down. Hands down. I'm not even about to argue with anybody who thinks they should argue that."

Free agency and the draft have come and gone since that comment. Still, another 49ers receiver agrees wholeheartedly with Aiyuk.

"From (Nick) Bosa, Arik (Armstead) to Fred (Warner), we got youngins growing, Deo Lenoir," wide receiver Deebo Samuel said earlier this month. "Then you go to the offensive end, you got Aiyuk, (George) Kittle, Trent (Williams), we got healthy quarterbacks, Christian (McCaffrey), me. From top to bottom, I feel like we the best team in the league."

So where do the 49ers rank among the 10 most complete teams in the NFL? Eric Edholm of NFL Media had only two teams ahead of San Francisco—the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Don't tell that to Samuel, who believes the NFC Championship Game would have had a different outcome if both 49ers quarterbacks hadn't suffered injuries.

"I ain't going to keep going on about what could've happened and what would've happened, but yeah, it would've definitely been a different outcome," Samuel said. "... We lost because we played with 10 people (on offense)."

In addition to the players that Samuel rattled off, the 49ers added defensive lineman Javon Hargrave via free agency, making an already impressive unit even scarier.

"The Niners were gashed by the run a few times, notably by the Eagles in the NFC title game," wrote Edholm. "But if big-ticket free-agent signing Javon Hargrave lives up to his billing, Arik Armstead bounces back from a tough season, and someone else steps up (Javon Kinlaw?), this should be a good defensive interior."

That doesn't mean things are perfect. One big reason the 49ers don't rank higher than No. 3 on Edholm's list is the uncertain quarterback situation. Purdy, suffering a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow in that NFC Championship Game, is expected to miss most or all of the offseason.

"If Purdy can come back and prove that his late-season run was no fluke, the 49ers will be in great shape," wrote Edholm.

The injury leaves former No. 3 overall picks Trey Lance and Sam Darnold splitting offseason reps and possibly starting Week 1 if Purdy isn't ready to go.

"Trey Lance's trajectory has changed wildly in the past nine months or so," wrote Edholm, 'but he'll still have a chance to rewrite his path and start if Purdy can't go Week 1. There's also Sam Darnold, who has 55 NFL starts, which is pretty good insurance."

Edholm notes other concerns, like the offensive line depth. While the 49ers seem confident that Colton McKivitz can replace Mike McGlinchey at right tackle, "experts" are less certain. If the team can remain healthy, though, the 49ers should find themselves in the playoffs again.

"Injuries always seem to sink their teeth into this team, but San Francisco's run/pass versatility with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, and others make this offense very tough to game plan against," added Edholm.
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article?
Report it.



LISTEN

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



Christian McCaffrey calls Kyle Shanahan's 49ers scheme the "most sustainable" in the NFL

By David Bonilla
May 29

You've heard stories about San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan installing a play and breaking down exactly how he expects the defense to react. Then, when the players execute the play, everything occurs as the coach explained, as if he had a crystal ball to predict the outcome. Shanahan is a confident play-caller, emphasizing execution by his players to ensure everything goes as planned. The 49ers acquired a big-time playmaker last season, trading for star running back Christian McCaffrey, who had already established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league. Even McCaffrey marvels at the things his play-caller comes up



Is Christian McCaffrey the most valuable member of the 49ers offense?

By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 26

The San Francisco 49ers saw significant success in 2023, despite a slow start to the season and multiple midseason quarterback changes due to injury, forcing seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy into action. A crucial part of that formula? Christian McCaffrey, who instantly elevated the 49ers' offense upon his arrival via trade at the midseason mark. McCaffrey changed the outlook of the offense, creating a more efficient offense on the ground, but more importantly, changing the dynamics of the 49ers' passing attack with his presence out of the backfield. Additionally, McCaffrey made the pace of the game easier for both veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Brock Purdy, as the 49ers' offense averaged over 30 points per game since the running back was fully



Why Cynthia Frelund named Brock Purdy the 49ers' most underappreciated player

By David Bonilla
May 27

NFL Media's Cynthia Frelund took on her annual offseason task of identifying the league's most underappreciated player for each team. The San Francisco 49ers certainly have their share of play-making superstars, from names like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle on offense to Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Talanoa Hufanga on defense. So how do you determine a team's "underappreciated" contributor? "First, I calculate and then rank each player's season-long contribution metric by team (win share)," Frelund explains. "To sum it up without getting overly technical, the contribution metric (or win share) measures each



49ers Mailbag: What happens if Sam Darnold beats out Trey Lance? Which rookie will play the most in 2023? Which question stumped us?

By Marc Adams
May 31

What happens if Sam Darnold beats out Trey Lance? We're answering this question and others in this week's edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag. It's week two of OTAs, and the 49ers will have a session open to the media on Wednesday. It may even be happening as you're reading this. And Brock Purdy is believed to start throwing a ball this week (though probably not a regular football). But for now, ignore those reports, and let's jump into our latest mailbag and answer your questions. Who's starting on Opening Day at FS? - Chris W. The 49ers re-signed veteran free safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year deal and drafted Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown back in April. Brown is the future starting free safety. That future is most likely to


Featured

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone