San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir feels a heightened sense of urgency to win a Super Bowl after coming so close in February. With quarterback Brock Purdy likely becoming one of the NFL's highest-paid players next year, which will impact the team's salary-cap flexibility, the pressure is on.
"I feel like this year, this is our year, and we are determined and focused, and we know what's at stake," Lenoir said during a podcast interview. "We know this could possibly be the last dance, so we know what needs to be done."
Tight end George Kittle is more optimistic about the 49ers' future but acknowledges that much hinges on this season's championship run.
"A couple of years ago, someone asked me, 'Is the window closing?'" Kittle shared with Kay Adams on Friday. "I was like, 'If you guys are telling me it's closing, I guess.' I think that at any moment, you could just throw a chair through the window and just break it right open. It is what it is. We have the guys on the roster we have."
Kittle praised 49ers management's ability to keep the team's core players intact and expressed confidence in their ability to maintain a competitive roster.
"And [GM] John [Lynch] and [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] have done a great job about figuring out how to keep our best players on the roster," Kittle continued, "and I think they're going to continue to figure out those ways. Hey, we lose guys every single year, and we figure out ways to bring other guys back. And so, whatever happens, happens."
Many consider the 49ers to have one of the NFL's top rosters, with ESPN's Mike Clay recently ranking it as the league's best. Although Purdy's future contract could require adjustments in the team's roster-building strategy, Kittle is confident that the 49ers can continue to navigate the complexities of the salary cap successfully.
Even if unexpected challenges arise, the team knows it has a legitimate shot at winning it all this season. After that, it will tackle whatever comes next.
"And the thing is, for this year, it's like, why do I care what's going to happen next year?" Kittle added. "If we can get the job done this year, then next year will just take care of itself, and we'll figure out that problem next year."