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Pro Football Focus revealed the first 10 players in its ranking of the 50 best players in the NFL right now. Nos. 41 through 50 have been announced, with the rest of the rankings being revealed through July 21.
Two San Francisco 49ers players find themselves in the latest reveal. They are running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Interestingly, both are in the tail end of the overall top 50.
McCaffrey came in at No. 44. While seemingly low on the list, the running back didn't even make Pro Football Focus' top 50 last offseason.
"What happens when one of the most exciting running backs in football is traded to a team coached by one of the best offensive minds in the game?" wrote analyst Sam Monson. "He ends up leading the league in PFF receiving grade at the position (92.4) and looking virtually unstoppable within the offense. McCaffrey's second year in San Francisco could be even more exciting than the first."
The star running back amassed 1,880 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns last season. One thousand two hundred and ten yards and 10 touchdowns came after the Carolina Panthers traded him to San Francisco.
Samuel barely made the top 50 list, coming in at No. 50. It's a 22-spot drop from his ranking of No. 28 last offseason. Still, Pro Football Focus recognizes the 49ers wideout's unique ability to do anything on the offensive side of the football.
"Samuel is one of one," wrote Monson. "A unique player, he has also found the perfect coach to maximize his talents. Ostensibly a wide receiver, Samuel has also lined up in the backfield over 100 times in each of the last two seasons. He broke 36 tackles in 2023 to lead all receivers."
Even Samuel admits that his 2022 campaign was a letdown compared to the breakout season he enjoyed in 2021 when he racked up 1,770 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. His 864 total yards last season were less than half that of the previous year.
"Oh, it was awful," Samuel said in June. "Every aspect. ... I'll never put nothing like that back on tape again."
Does 49ers QB Brock Purdy need Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel for success?
By David Bonilla
May 15
Rumors circulated before and during the 2024 NFL Draft about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers losing one of their top two wide receivers—Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Such a scenario could have significantly impacted the team's success in the upcoming season and posed a potential blow for quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrived alongside the dynamic duo on the field.
However, none of these speculations came to fruition. Both Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the roster, at least for another season, though their future beyond that remains uncertain.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would position him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Samuel already commands a significant salary following a deal rework in 2022.
Pro Football Focus senior analyst John Kosko recently scrutinized every NFL team, pinpointing which roster possesses the best group at each position. Kosko also singled out the worst position groups in the league, and fortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, they were not represented in any of those categories.
The 49ers were spotlighted by two position groups on the list, with Kosko asserting that the Bay Area team boasts the best tight end and linebacker groups in the NFL.
One might wonder if the team's wide receiver group, consisting of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and now rookie Ricky Pearsall, made the list. However, that
PFF identifies 49ers' breakout candidate for 2024 season
By David Bonilla
May 15
Bradley Locker, a freelance writer for Pro Football Focus, delved into all 16 NFC teams to pinpoint one potential breakout player for each. For the San Francisco 49ers, that player is former second-round draft pick Drake Jackson, who had an underwhelming sophomore campaign last season before landing on injured reserve.
San Francisco overhauled their defensive line this offseason, bidding farewell to Arik Armstead and others while bringing in edge rushers Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency. While many anticipate these additions to compensate for the losses, the true impact will only be seen once the regular season kicks off.
"Very quietly, the 49ers
PFF analyst underwhelmed by 49ers' offseason efforts
By David Bonilla
May 16
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a disappointing Super Bowl defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs, but they still boast one of the NFL's best rosters, led by promising young quarterback Brock Purdy.
Following free agency and the NFL Draft, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan may believe the 49ers are better today than they were a few months ago. However, Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema would disagree.
While handing out offseason grades for all 32 teams, Sikkema sees a little improvement for the 49ers.
"The Niners didn't make a huge splash in free agency but signed some core players in Leonard Floyd, Yetur
