The San Francisco 49ers worked aggressively this offseason to strengthen their roster and keep pace with the Los Angeles Rams and reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. That effort included revamping the wide receiver room and improving a pass rush that underperformed last season.
So, how successful was the 49ers' offseason overhaul?
Eric Edholm of NFL.com ranked the 10 most complete NFL rosters heading into the 2026 season, placing San Francisco at No. 8 on the list.
Edholm praised the 49ers' top-end talent while noting there are still concerns about depth at several positions. Despite an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, San Francisco finished 12-5 and earned a playoff berth.
"Brock Purdy is a polarizing QB who has won two-thirds of his NFL starts," Edholm wrote. "At worst, he's a quality distributor and occasional playmaker who makes one of the league's best offenses go -- and he's backed ably by Mac Jones."
At wide receiver, the 49ers lost Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne but added veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk before drafting De'Zhaun Stribling. They will join pass catchers Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle—assuming Kittle is healthy for the start of the season.
"Trent Williams bolsters a solid offensive line, but he hasn't played a complete season in more than a decade," Edholm wrote. "Left guard and overall depth are concerning elements up front. McCaffrey averaged 3.9 yards per rush last season, his lowest mark in San Francisco, but his consistency and receiving ability (arguably his most productive ever at this in 2025) make him a true blue-chipper, anchoring the backfield and the offense as a whole."
Injuries devastated the 49ers' defensive front last season. The team struggled to recover after Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams suffered ACL injuries. Additionally, the defense lost its emotional leader when linebacker Fred Warner went down.
Bosa is expected to return for the 2026 season, while Williams remains on track to contribute at some point during the year.
"The front seven appears to be the team's strength overall, however, assuming those players return healthy and some youngsters and new vets elevate the group," Edholm wrote. "The secondary has potential as a solid group but lacks any clear difference-makers."
San Francisco hopes it has at least partially addressed those concerns by trading for Osa Odighizuwa and drafting Romello Height in the third round.
Comments