The 49ers have to post a successful offseason in 2025 to have a chance at getting back to Super Bowl contention, and these five bold predictions will help.
The San Francisco 49ers collectively admitted a lot of things need to change entering 2025 after a frustrating 6-11 record and last-place finish within the NFC West last season.
Two moves happened right away: the dismissal of coordinators Brian Schneider and Nick Sorensen after both special teams and the defense wholly underperformed throughout 2024.
More shakeups are needed, though, putting immense pressure on head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to “get the offseason right.”
In need of two new coordinators, having limited assets in salary cap space (thanks to a looming extension for quarterback Brock Purdy) while possessing the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Niners can take a restructure in a number of different directions.
Should they go bold, one (or more) of the following bold predictions might come true.
Bold prediction No. 1: 49ers hire Deshea Townsend (not Robert Saleh) as defensive coordinator
All signs point to ousted New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh being the favorite to return to San Francisco as defensive coordinator, provided Saleh doesn’t accept a head-coaching job elsewhere after interviewing in multiple spots.
Indeed, Saleh was at the helm of an elite 49ers defense in 2019 and got the most out of a banged-up unit in 2020, which propeled him to join Gang Green the following offseason.
But some may argue reuniting with Saleh is little more than an attempted to recreate the Niners of old, not an attempt to adapt and evolve, which is a need Shanahan pointed out during his end-of-year press conference.
Perhaps this helps explain why San Francisco also interviewed Detroit Lions defensive pass game coordinator Deshea Townsend, who has enjoyed plenty of success in 2024 under Detroit’s own coordinator, Aaron Glenn, despite the Lions also dealing with more than their fair share of defensive injuries.
Townsend would bring different schematic ideas than what Saleh is known for, and a bold prediction would suggest he gets the nod over Shanahan’s former top lieutenant.
Bold prediction No. 2: 49ers cut ties with Deebo Samuel (despite saying otherwise)
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel has been the subject of scrutiny heading into the offseason, following a notably bad and controversial year.
All this has led to speculation he could either be traded or made a cap casualty, but in the same end-of-year presser, Lynch told reporters the 49ers had no interest in moving the 2021 All-Pro this offseason.
Perhaps this makes sense, especially with fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk nursing his way back from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in Week 7.
However, retaining Samuel doesn’t seem like a bold prediction, right?
A post-June 1 release would save the Niners nearly $28 million in cap space over the next two years at a cost of $20.5 million in dead money over that same span, and San Francisco will need much of that cash to extend Purdy, should they opt to do so.
So, despite what Lynch said, the 49ers opt to part ways with Samuel if they elect to go bold.
Bold prediction No. 3: 49ers retain faith in Jake Moody
Not all bold predictions may satisfy the fanbase’s cravings for immediate change.
After posting a lowly 70.6 field-goal percentage in his second year in the pros, kicker Jake Moody has fallen squarely on the hot seat, potentially losing the confidence of Shanahan despite the coach’s previous comments to the contrary.
A knee-jerk reaction would be for the Niners to deny Moody access to the building once 2025’s regular season rolls around even though it’s perfectly possible to blame his woes on the high-ankle sprain suffered last season.
However, while there should absolutely be some sort of kicker competition this offseason to put pressure on the 2023 third-round draftee, San Francisco opts to stay stubborn here and aims to have Moody bounce back from what’ll hopefully be a turning-point year.
Hopefully.
Bold prediction No. 4: 49ers trade up in Round 1 of NFL Draft
At No. 11 overall, the 49ers will be selecting at the earliest point since aggressively trading up to land quarterback Trey Lance at No. 3 overall back in 2021.
While the Niners have zero interest in a similar move in 2025, Lynch hasn’t shied away from draft-day trades before. Plus, knowing there’ll likely be an early run on quarterbacks to kick off Round 1 this April, there’ll likely be plenty of top-10 talent pushed down the board to the 11th pick.
But, that won’t stop San Francisco from being aggressive.
The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets all desperately need quarterbacking help and will draft in the top 10, but the No. 8 overall-drafting Carolina Panthers could be seeking out defensive line help.
It won’t take multiple future first-round selections to move up, but the bold prediction might suggest the 49ers leapfrog Carolina in a move with the Jets to secure the seventh overall pick.
If that move comes true, the Niners get their guy in our next and final bold offseason prediction.
Bold prediction No. 5: 49ers draft Michigan DL Mason Graham
San Francisco needs to get back to its traditional modus operandi: emphasizing the trenches, specifically the defensive line.
Defensive end Nick Bosa remains elite, and veteran edge Leonard Floyd is a decent No. 2 pass-rusher. But the interior of the D-line is a weakness, and it’ll remain so once the 49ers go through with their plan of making Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave a post-June 1 cap casualty, which Lynch indicated they’d do.
Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham could arguably be the consensus top player in this year’s draft class, and there’s certainly an outside chance he falls beyond the top 10.
But, with the Panthers looming and not in need of a quarterback, it seems unlikely the Niners have a shot at netting a top-three caliber talent.
That said, a trade-up could put San Francisco in a tremendous position, assuming that early run on quarterbacks happens and Mason gets pushed down outside of the top five.
If so, he’d be the 49ers’ primary target and an absolute steal of a move.
