Several San Francisco 49ers players landed within ESPN's position rankings for 2023. Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw bookended the top-10 list of linebackers. Newly acquired defender Javon Hargrave came in at No. 5 among defensive tackles. Nick Bosa, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, topped the edge rusher list.
ESPN revealed their rankings of other position groups this week, and the 49ers are well-represented. Writer Jeremy Fowler polled over 80 NFL executives, coaches, scouts, and players to see who was considered the best in the league.
Trent Williams
Rank: 1 among offensive tackles
Last year's rank: 1
"He's an incredibly gifted player," an NFC executive told Fowler. "He has lapses and relies on that talent too much at times. There is some wavering physicality with him. But when he turns it on, nearly impossible to stop."
Trent Williams is overwhelmingly seen as the best offensive tackle in the league. The offensive lineman remains a dominant force even at 34 years old and at the tail end of his career. Eighty percent of the voters ranked him at No. 1.
Christian McCaffrey
Rank: 2 among running backs
Last year's rank: 7
Playing in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense has revealed running back Christian McCaffrey's true potential, and evaluators are taking note. Staying healthy last season didn't hurt either.
"He's one of the most versatile offensive players in the league," an AFC executive said. "He can be used on perimeter runs, interior runs, out of the backfield, split out. He's in tremendous shape and has size, strength and speed. Injuries have taken him off the field, but when he's healthy, he is still a game-changer and a guy that needs to be accounted for at all times."
McCaffrey finished his 2022 campaign with a ridiculous 1,880 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns.
"McCaffrey now has three seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards, trailing only Marshall Faulk (four) in NFL history," notes Fowler.
George Kittle
Rank: 2 among tight ends
Last year's rank: 1
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce surpassed George Kittle for the top spot this offseason, with Fowler noting that the former earned 80 percent of the first-place votes. Still, evaluators love what the 49ers tight end brings to the table—a unique combination of pass-catching skill and elite blocking.
"So much inconsistency with the quarterback and durability issues have held him back a bit, but he's still top-notch," an NFL personnel man told Fowler. "He's the most explosive athlete at the position, probably the best at creating separation and yards after the catch."
Kittle hauled in a career-high 11 touchdowns this past season despite having three different quarterbacks throw to him.
"And he's still one of the most dangerous with the ball in open space," Fowler notes. "Kittle's 7.2 yards-after-catch average leads all tight ends since 2017."
Talanoa Hufanga
Rank: 9 among safeties
Last year's rank: Unranked
"Instincts -- he gets the ball, doesn't run fast but is smart, in the right position," an NFC executive said of 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. "In that defense, that goes a long way."
Fowler notes that evaluators see the third-year safety as a natural playmaker. The former fifth-round pick earned his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors this past season.
"Hufanga was one of five NFL safeties with at least 95 tackles and four or more interceptions last season," wrote Fowler. "On 40 targets as the nearest defender, Hufanga allowed 235 yards and deflected nine passes."