The San Francisco 49ers have been so agonizingly close to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in recent years. But as the old saying goes, “close, but no cigar.”
To overcome their short comings and past blunders to win Super Bowl LX, San Francisco must address some key issues while avoiding some of the pitfalls that have hit in the past.
49ers’ 1st area of concern: Properly filling Deebo Samuel’s void
One of the most critical positions of need right now is at wide receiver.
All-Pro Deebo Samuel has been traded to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Deebo had an amazing run with the Niners, although it now seems like a short-lived experience. Yes, it was certainly a pleasure to watch the young man evolve into a stud before our very own eyes. His production as a playmaker left an indelible mark in San Francisco, and now the organization is tasked with finding his successor for the immediate future.
But, the 49ers shouldn’t feel sold on the idea of landing a Samuel-like clone. Reinventing their offense sans Samuel might be the smarter play.
49ers’ 2nd area of concern: Defensive front-7 needs an overhaul
Aside from Deebo being the first big domino to fall, there will be several players walking out the door as well. Most notably from the defensive side they’re expected to lose cornerback Charvarius Ward and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, and the Niners still have looming question marks surrounding linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
This will be a huge portion of the process especially for returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Saleh’s return helps, but personnel matters more. With four impact starters set to depart, coupled with San Francisco’s desire to get both younger and cheaper up front, the previous approach of patchwork fixes likely won’t be enough.
49ers’ 3rd area of concern: Improving personnel rotation
For all the success the 49ers have enjoyed since 2019, they still haven’t quite moved like a well-oiled machine. They’ve had amazing runs to go along with some excellent individual performances but would’ve been a much stronger unit if they incorporated all of their weapons.
Case in point, the so-called Swiss Army knife, fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
True, Juszczyk is a quality lead-blocker and pass protector, but he is also one of his most valuable pass catchers when used in that regard. Unfortunately, he’s been somewhat overlooked in the offensive scheme, and he was not alone.
Last year, others found themselves relegated to the periphery for questionable reasons. Running back Jordan Mason found himself riding the bench more frequently once superstar Christian McCaffrey briefly returned to action. Veteran wide receiver Chris Conley and tight ends Jake Tonges and Eric Saubert rarely saw touches in 2024, which might be understandable when looking at the higher-ups on the depth chart.
Amid what looks to be a notable reset this offseason, head coach Kyle Shanahan can adequately build depth, which will turn into better rotation when the games begin to count.
