PFF’s best and worst graded 49ers players vs. Browns, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers dropped their record to 5-1 after a 19-17 loss against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do?

Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Browns.

• Charlie Woerner, TE, 73.3, 5 snaps
• Jauan Jennings, WR, 71.0, 33 snaps
• Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 69.8, 61 snaps
• Jordan Mason, RB, 68.9, 15 snaps
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, 68.2, 36 snaps

Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense.

• Fred Warner, LB, 81.1, 76 snaps
• Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, 75.3, 19 snaps
• Clelin Ferrell, DE, 74.1, 36 snaps
• Deommodore Lenoir, CB, 73.2, 72 snaps
• Nick Bosa, DE, 73.1, 68 snaps

Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on offense.

• Brock Purdy, QB, 45.4, 62 snaps
• Aaron Banks, LG, 49.0, 62 snaps
• Trent Williams, LT, 50.6, 60 snaps

Below are the three lowest-graded 49ers players on defense.

• Oren Burks, LB, 41.9, 76 snaps
• Drake Jackson, DE, 42.0, 22 snaps
• Tashaun Gipson Sr., FS, 50.3, 76 snaps

Quick Takeaways

We'll start with Brock Purdy, who had his ugliest game since taking over the starting quarterback job. He finished the game 12-of-27 for 125 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and a passer rating of 55.3, a career-low as a starter. His abysmal 45.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade was the worst among his offensive teammates and the lowest of his career.

When the quarterback falters, it typically reverberates through the offense. No one on that side of the ball graded higher than tight end Charlie Woerner's 73.3, who only played five snaps. Take that out of the equation, and the highest-graded offensive player was wide receiver Jauan Jennings, with a 71.0 overall grade.

Jordan Mason was serviceable, filling in for star running back Christian McCaffrey. He rushed for 27 yards and a touchdown on five carries. However, McCaffrey is the only running back on the 49ers roster who presents a significant threat in the passing game. No other 49ers running back registered a reception against the Browns.

Tackle Trent Williams played through an ankle injury, impacting his effectiveness throughout the game. That was evident in his 50.6 overall grade, which took a big hit from his 33.8 pass-blocking grade. It was his lowest overall grade since 2018 with Washington (38.9 in Week 17). Williams allowed four pressures, a hit, and three hurries in 34 pass-blocking snaps.

Linebacker Fred Warner continues to shine on defense, earning his highest grade of the season. He finished the game with seven tackles, an interception, and a pass defensed. Notably, Warner secured his highest coverage grade (89.0) since the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers in the 2021 season. Browns quarterback P.J. Walker owned a passer rating of 41.7 when targeting Warner.

Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles earned the next highest overall grade on the 49ers defense, albeit in just 19 snaps.

Among the defensive backs, Deommodore Lenoir stood out as the highest-graded player. While he allowed three receptions for 78 yards, including a game-long 58-yarder, it's worth noting that this came on seven targets. Moreover, Lenoir came through with a crucial interception late in the game.

While Nick Bosa's pass-rush grade of 63.6 was a personal season-low, the star pass rusher still managed to crack the top-five highest-graded defensive players among his teammates with a 73.1 overall grade.

Defensive end Drake Jackson's overall grades have seen a steady decline week after week. Starting the season with a season-high mark of 82.3 in Week 1, he reached a career low against the Browns. While Jackson recorded eight total pressures in the first two games, he has just six since.

Snap Counts

Offense
62 - Aaron Banks (LG), Brock Purdy (QB), Colton McKivitz (RT), Jake Brendel (C), Spencer Burford (RG)
61 - Brandon Aiyuk (WR), George Kittle (TE)
60 - Trent Williams (LT)
44 - Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR)
36 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
34 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
33 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
15 - Jordan Mason (RB)
9 - Deebo Samuel (WR)
7 - Elijah Mitchell (RB)
5 - Charlie Woerner (TE)
4 - Ross Dwelley (TE)
2 - Jaylon Moore (LT)
1 - Ronnie Bell (WR)

Defense
76 - Charvarius Ward (CB), Fred Warner (LB), Oren Burks (LB), Talanoa Hufanga (FS), Tashaun Gipson Sr. (FS)
72 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB)
68 - Nick Bosa (DE)
57 - Isaiah Oliver (CB)
54 - Arik Armstead (DT)
49 - Javon Hargrave (DT)
36 - Clelin Ferrell (DE)
29 - Javon Kinlaw (DT)
26 - Randy Gregory (LOLB)
22 - Drake Jackson (DE)
20 - Kevin Givens (DT)
19 - Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (LB)
4 - Ambry Thomas (CB)

Special Teams
25 - Charlie Woerner
22 - Ambry Thomas, Ross Dwelley
20 - Curtis Robinson, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
19 - Ji'Ayir Brown
17 - Jordan Mason
14 - Dee Winters, Isaiah Oliver
13 - Ronnie Bell, Shemar Jean-Charles
11 - George Odum, Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
10 - Ray-Ray McCloud III
9 - Jake Moody (K)
6 - Charvarius Ward, Clelin Ferrell, Drake Jackson, Fred Warner, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens, Oren Burks, Talanoa Hufanga
5 - Colton McKivitz, Jake Brendel, Jaylon Moore, Jon Feliciano, Nick Zakelj, Randy Gregory, Spencer Burford
4 - Deommodore Lenoir
2 - Kyle Juszczyk
0 - Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave, Nick Bosa

Related News

• 49ers snap counts that stand out from Week 6 vs. Browns Niners Wire • Oct 16, 2023
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• How PFF graded Brock Purdy, 49ers after humbling loss to Browns NBCS Bay Area • Oct 16, 2023