It appears just like the San Francisco 49ers have gone concerning the enterprise of paying gamers. That features their standout linebacker. Nevertheless, right here is the 49ers’ riskiest transfer of the 2025 NFL offseason.
The 49ers hit the draft exhausting on the defensive aspect of the soccer. Their first 5 picks had been edge rusher, defensive sort out, linebacker, cornerback, and one other defensive sort out. This method left little assist for the offensive aspect of the ball by way of game-changing participant additions.
Additionally, the 49ers traded away Deebo Samuel. So their offense will journey on guys like Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, and George Kittle.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan didn’t get a lot assist for offense
Shanahan and normal supervisor John Lynch shall be banking on the offense getting issues performed with the fellows in-house. In case you take a look at Professional Soccer Focus, a really dependable supply, the 49ers didn’t method issues very effectively. PFF gave the crew a grade of D.
“General, the 49ers appeared to worsen this offseason,” PFF wrote. “Getting Robert Saleh again as defensive coordinator may very well be an enormous optimistic, as he had success in that place with this very regime. However exterior of that, the crew misplaced Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuel, and Talanoa Hufanga. And (the 49ers) didn’t meaningfully handle their offensive line.
“San Francisco’s draft was closely targeted on enhancing in run protection, which was wanted after they completed 2025 with a 54.6 crew PFF grade in that side. The 49ers’ flooring may be increased, however their ceiling appears decrease.”
Right here’s an enormous drawback for the 49ers ignoring their offensive line. They only signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million extension. Uniquely, the final choose within the 2022 NFL Draft turned the highest-paid participant in 49ers historical past.
However the 49ers have gambled by not constructing a fortress round Purdy. That’s particularly an enormous threat as a result of many don’t see Purdy as worthy of such an enormous contract, based on cbssports.com.
“The 49ers made a questionable choice in signing Purdy to a five-year, $265 million extension,” Jeff Purdy wrote. “Though they had been in a pickle it doesn’t matter what choice they made. San Francisco might have both paid Purdy heading into the final 12 months of his rookie contract or moved on and signed one other quarterback this offseason.
“They determined to pay Purdy considerably greater than what he is price. When Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle all performed, Purdy was 17-4 and threw 38 touchdowns to simply eight interceptions. In another sport, Purdy was 10-11 with 30 touchdowns to 18 interceptions — a major drop off.”
The issue with the 49ers draft
The largest difficulty didn’t come from their first choose. They acquired a possible stud cross rusher in Mykel Williams.
Nevertheless, they handed on getting huge receiver expertise to assist Purdy. In Spherical 2. the 49ers handed up an opportunity to get both Tre Harris (Chargers) or Jack Bech (Raiders). Within the third spherical, they didn’t go for Jaylin Noel (Texans) or Savion Williams (Packers).
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It stays to be seen what the 49ers receivers will seem like this 12 months. Will Brandon Aiyuk recuperate effectively sufficient from his ACL damage to have a banner 12 months? Is Jauan Jennings able to be a reliable WR2? And is Ricky Pearsall on the verge of a breakout season?
The 49ers higher hope all of these issues occur.
Listening to the “consultants,” a few of them appreciated what the 49ers did with their picks, based on 49ers.com.
“The 49ers used their first 5 picks on protection earlier than lastly pivoting to the offensive aspect on Day 3,” Eric Edholm of the NFL Community wrote. “It was not a surprising method for a crew whose depth chart felt fairly lean after the roster was raided in free company. We’ll see if the Niners plugged sufficient holes this offseason, however they allotted their assets effectively, I believe.”
“The 49ers had been so comfortable to have Robert Saleh again, they made their first 5 picks on the defensive aspect of the ball,” David Helman of Fox Sports activities wrote. “That seems like the proper strategy to play it. San Francisco’s points on offense are primarily health-related. It is the protection that wanted an infusion of younger expertise if the Niners are going to get again to contending.”
What about momentum from final 12 months?
However bear in mind, the 49ers didn’t get it performed on offense final season. As they collapsed down the stretch, dropping seven of eight video games, right here had been their level totals 17, 10, 10, 38, 6, 17, 34, and 24. That doesn’t seem like a crew that has its offensive state of affairs discovered.
Sure, accidents performed a task. However that sort of end screams a crew that wants assist in the draft. Perhaps the 49ers will get a carry from fifth-round choose Jordan James, based on espn.com.
“James is a troublesome and highly effective runner with a low middle of gravity,” Steve Muench wrote. “He runs behind his pads and delivers blows on the level of contact. (Additionally,) he makes late cuts and has the foot velocity to slalom by site visitors. He breaks tackles in area, makes defenders miss, and reaches his top-end velocity shortly after the catch.”
Sounds good. Let’s see if the general gamble pays off.