As the 49ers' unfortunate season slowly dwindles, it's a good time to reflect on several preseason predictions – some accurate, others completely off. Let's start with my article, "Locking Up a Cornerstone: Why the 49ers Should Extend Deommodore Lenoir." This piece argued that the 25-year-old cornerback, known for his consistent lockdown coverage of top receivers and solid interception numbers, was poised for a major payday. Lenoir's hard work, reliability, and youthful potential made him a valuable asset deserving of a long-term contract.
My prediction proved accurate. On November 13, 2024, the 49ers announced a five-year contract extension for Lenoir worth $92 million, securing him as a cornerstone of their secondary for years to come. This success stemmed from recognizing his unique ability to mirror elite receivers, a skillset often overlooked by casual fans.
Next, let's examine a prediction that was neither right nor wrong from a technical perspective. In the article, "The Pros and Cons of Reducing 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey's Workload in 2024," injury prevention, balancing the offensive approach, and developing younger athletes were the main reasons why it was beneficial. Some negatives included how it hurts the team's identity, not worth the headache, and the backups could potentially fumble or not be productive.
With McCaffrey's 2024 season filled with injuries that forced the 28-year-old Stanford graduate to only play in four regular season games, where he totaled 202 rushing yards, 146 receiving yards, and captured zero touchdowns, the outcome of our article doesn't neatly fit into "right" or "wrong," as it highlighted key considerations that ultimately proved relevant despite his injury.
One of the positives for reducing McCaffrey's workload would be to prevent injuries; well, that was inaccurate as his calf and Achilles injury, which caused him to miss the majority of the regular season, occurred during training camp and not a game. One of the things I mentioned was that, "With McCaffrey potentially getting reduced carries, it could give the passing game more love and appreciation." This also proved to be inaccurate as the 49ers' offensive scheme relies heavily on solid running back production to open up the passing game through play-action. The thought of simply putting quarterback Brock Purdy in the shotgun and throwing is not ideal, and that was proven at times this season. Developing the younger athletes through McCaffrey's fewer carries was accurate, and now the franchise has a good understanding of what they are getting with rookie fourth-round back Isaac Guerendo, who played well enough and showed sparks when given the opportunity.
Overall, injury prevention and a more balanced offensive approach were not accurate, but developing the younger athletes was one of the most important aspects mentioned, and that in itself underscored the importance of developing depth at all positions, a lesson that the 49ers front office will take with them in 2025 and beyond.
Despite a rollercoaster rookie season, and breaking all sorts of records, 49ers kicker Jake Moody was not a bright spot for the franchise in year two. In the article, "Why 49ers kicker Jake Moody will be more consistent in 2024," experience, a full offseason of preparation, and confidence from coaches and teammates were mentioned as the catalysts for his development and the ultimate goal of being a consistent and accurate placekicker in the NFL. The article's goals were very attainable for Moody but ultimately fell short, giving this article an inaccurate rating.
Moody has missed nine field goal attempts this season and started on a promising note before struggling. In the team's week 17 matchup versus the Detroit Lions, Moody missed two field goals and an extra point. After the game, he mentioned how it has him at "one of the lowest times" in his short career, but he is leaning on his teammates despite the struggles. San Francisco's All-Pro tight end George Kittle still has confidence in him and told the media recently that he is a huge fan of Jake and how he needs to keep believing in himself. While the prediction of increased consistency proved inaccurate, the article correctly identified the importance of team support as a key factor in Moody's development. This support is absolutely crucial for Moody's mental stability and his determination to overcome adversity in 2025 and beyond.
Looking back on these articles, it becomes pretty clear that not everything can be accurately predicted in July. Predicting player performance is among the most challenging aspects of covering an NFL organization. Numerous factors, such as injuries, can significantly impact team success, as proven by the 2024 San Francisco 49ers. While some of my predictions were indeed accurate, others serve as a valuable lesson, one that deals with just how uncertain the NFL can truly be. Past performance is not an indication of future results, and fans should temper their expectations and excitement early on in the process and just enjoy the journey that unfolds along the way.