The San Francisco 49ers could have pushed through their salary cap concerns, even knowing they had a franchise quarterback to pay in Brock Purdy, and used this offseason to reload and make another run at a Super Bowl. It's what they did last season. The result was a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024, far from the championship expectations in Santa Clara.

This offseason, the 49ers pivoted. Instead of leaning on veteran stopgaps, the front office kicked off a roster makeover that puts more responsibility on young players to fill key roles.


San Francisco selected 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft and has added 19 draft picks over the past two years. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch know their success now hinges on first- and second-year players developing quickly.

Shanahan sees similarities in the current roster overhaul to what he and Lynch inherited back in 2017.

"When we got here in '17, we knew we had a roster that we really had to completely change over," Shanahan said this week on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And in the first year, we changed 10 out of 11 guys on offense. Joe Staley was the only one who remained. And on defense, we did eight out of 11. So we had a big turnover, and we did it all with draft picks. And to me, you don't hit on every draft pick, but we hit on a lot, and we got some difference-makers in there, and that kind of became the core of our group from '19 all the way until now."


Of course, the 49ers' rise to contention wasn't built on draft picks alone. In past years, they made bold trades for stars like running back Christian McCaffrey and tackle Trent Williams while also making selective free-agent signings.

Still, the backbone of the roster came from homegrown playmakers such as tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner, and defensive end Nick Bosa.


"Fortunately, we've been able to keep some of those guys, and that's, to me, the biggest difference between now and '17, is that some of these guys that have been here are still here," Shanahan continued. "And we've got a group of players, whether it's five, whether it's seven, whatever it is, that are difference-makers. Some borderline Hall of Fame players, too.

"But when you look at the rest of the roster, that's what reminds me a little bit more of '17 and '18, that we need to add a bunch of youth. We need to get guys who are younger, so obviously, we can afford to keep some of these players with also having to pay a quarterback and things like that. So, whenever that happens, you do depend on young guys. But when you get young guys, it also makes it a little bit more built to last."

Shanahan avoids the word "rebuild" when describing the offseason transition. With leaders like Kittle, Warner, and Bosa anchoring the locker room, he believes the 49ers have enough proven talent to steady the team while the younger players find their footing.

He also knows the process will take time, and is tempering his expectations for the upcoming season.

"I expect our team in Week 12, Week 13 to look a lot different than it did in Week 1," Shanahan explained. "And my whole goal is that we get better throughout the year and find a way to, hopefully, get into those playoffs. And once you get into those playoffs, then you've got a chance at anything."


For Shanahan and the 49ers, the 2025 season isn't about a short-term fix. It's about building a foundation that can sustain success for years to come.

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