Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Trevor Sikkema recently ranked all eight NFL divisions, placing the NFC West in third place, behind only the NFC North and AFC West. The San Francisco 49ers finished last in the NFC West last season, but injuries played a significant role in their disappointing six-win campaign.
Looking ahead to 2025, the 49ers will count on improved health and a revamped roster to fuel a potential bounce-back season. Still, with the NFC West shaping up to be one of the league's most competitive divisions, climbing back up the standings won't be easy.
"If the Cardinals take the next step — and there's reason to believe they can — the NFC West could turn into a four-team slugfest," Sikkema wrote. "Kyler Murray quietly posted his second-highest big-time throw rate (4.7%) in 2024 while keeping his turnover-worthy play percentage at a career-low 2.4%. With the defensive reinforcements Arizona added this offseason, they're well-positioned to push for a 10-win campaign."
The reigning division champion, the Los Angeles Rams, is expected to remain a force in 2025. And while there are questions surrounding the Seattle Seahawks, it's too early to count them out.
The 49ers, meanwhile, managed just one win in six division matchups last season.
"The Rams remain one of the toughest outs in the league, and if not for the blizzard in their playoff game against the Eagles, they might have been on their way to the NFC Championship Game," Sikkema added. "Seattle faces more uncertainty, with Sam Darnold stepping in at quarterback and no D.K. Metcalf in the receiving corps."
Sikkema views the 49ers as a wildcard, capable of competing, but still facing significant questions after a season filled with adversity.
"As for the 49ers, health will be the biggest variable," he noted, "but one key area they addressed was the run defense, which ranked 28th in the NFL last year in terms of run-defense grade. Their draft class should go a long way toward correcting that."
San Francisco's run defense allowed 124.6 rushing yards per game last season, surrendered 24 rushing touchdowns (second-most in the league), and earned a lackluster 54.6 run-defense grade from PFF.
To help fix that, the 49ers invested in the trenches during the draft. Defensive linemen Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West all posted run-defense grades of 82.9 or higher last season, led by West's impressive 88.1 mark.