The team lost a few veteran leaders in defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, and offensive tackle Joe Staley. The first was traded away, so it wasn't the player's decision to leave. The second opted to sign with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. The third retired.
For any other team, these losses might have been significant. But the 49ers own a deep roster, an embarrassment of riches at certain positions. That helped the Kyle Shanahan-led squad reach the Super Bowl in year three of a massive roster overhaul.
As for the losses themselves, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch worked diligently to fill the voids. With the first two, they looked to the draft, using first-round picks to select defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team found a replacement for its retired Pro Bowl offensive tackle by trading for another Pro Bowl offensive tackle in Trent Williams.
So, how do you think the offseason has gone? On paper, at least, the 49ers are in a position to at least be as good as last season. Of course, you never know in the NFL. Games aren't won on paper. Nor are they won in June.
CBS Sports was reasonably impressed with the 49ers' efforts this offseason. Writer Josh Edwards ranked San Francisco as having the fourth-best offseason among the 32 NFL teams. He placed the Niners behind only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (any team landing Tom Brady would have catapulted to No. 1 in the media's opinion), Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens.
The Cardinals' position at No. 2 on the list has to do with the 49ers' division rival swindling the Houston Texans in a trade that landed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and a perceived strong draft.
As for the 49ers, they rank so high because the team retained some of its own talent in defensive lineman Arik Armstead and safety Jimmie Ward, re-signing both to multi-year deals.
"Those moves made them realize that defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was a luxury," wrote Edwards, "so they shipped him to Indianapolis in exchange for a first-round pick. They made a series of budget signings to sustain a Super Bowl-caliber roster."
Add to that the previously mentioned acquisitions of Kinlaw, Aiyuk, and Williams, and you have the reason why San Francisco ranks above 28 other teams.
Edwards wonders, though, "Will this offseason's moves be enough to get Kyle Shanahan's team over the hump?"
We won't know the answer to that until February.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Kyle Shanahan on 49ers WR Mike Evans: 'I haven't had many guys like that'
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is excited about the possibilities veteran wide receiver Mike Evans brings to his offense. On Thursday, Shanahan did not hide his enthusiasm as he discussed the unique traits Evans brings to the team. "Mike's a Hall-of-Fame... -
Why NFL.com believes the 49ers could dethrone the Seahawks in 2026
NFL.com analyst Dan Parr recently ranked eight teams capable of dethroning the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in 2026, placing the San Francisco 49ers fifth on the list. Parr noted that sharing the NFC West with Seattle strengthens San Francisco's case, as the division... -
49ers' Mac Jones addresses shoulder soreness, offseason trade rumors
Quarterback Mac Jones did not throw last week when the San Francisco 49ers opened organized team activities (OTAs). He's also sitting out this week's practices, with OTAs scheduled to conclude on Thursday. The 49ers have already canceled next week's mandatory minicamp, meaning... -
Why 49ers coach quickly fell in love with rookie LB Jaden Dugger
The San Francisco 49ers selected linebacker Jaden Dugger out of Louisiana in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. During the pre-draft process, Dugger stood out as a prospect with the athleticism, instincts, and upside to develop into an impact defender at the NFL level. One...