Can 49ers rebound after disappointing 2024? How Christian McCaffrey’s return, remade protection affect outlook

Welcome to “NFL Ideas,” a wide-ranging, in-depth have a look at a few of the prime storylines of the 2025 season. We began this yr’s sequence by wanting again on the prized 2024 rookie quarterback class and looking forward to what we should expect from it in 2025. At the moment, we’re a staff that fell off in 2024 and whether or not it may rejoin the NFL’s higher crust after massive modifications over the 2025 offseason.

From 2019-2023, the 49ers gained 54 regular-season video games — solely the Packers gained extra video games amongst NFC groups — and went to 2 Tremendous Bowls, falling to the Chiefs each instances. The 49ers’ eight playoff wins over that span have been second within the NFL, solely behind Kansas Metropolis. That Patrick Mahomes man has a approach of standing in the way in which, does not he?

In final yr’s model of this very sequence, we puzzled aloud if 2024 can be the 49ers’ final run as we knew them. They have been coping with contract drama and injuries, however they have been nonetheless, on paper, one of many NFL’s extra proficient rosters. That they had simply come one possession away from lifting the Lombardi Trophy, Brock Purdy blossoming with tons of stars round him, and the protection returned a number of standouts. San Francisco had, by money spending, essentially the most expensive roster in the NFL.

Then issues fell aside. Damage issues turned an harm epidemic — the 49ers have been by far the staff most impacted by injury per Aaron Schatz’s adjusted video games loss metrics — and new, surprising points piled up. The 49ers went 6-11, their worst file since 2018.

Can they get again to their normal? The NFC West has the staff that got here closest to beating the Eagles within the playoffs — the Rams — in addition to a 10-win Seahawks staff and a Cardinals membership with a remade protection. It will not be simple — issues within the NFL hardly ever are — however San Francisco hopes a seismic offseason plus vital inside enhancements get the staff again on monitor.

49ers offense: Is improved well being sufficient?

Issues started poorly for the 49ers and solely obtained worse. Christian McCaffrey’s mysterious nagging Achilles went from offseason fear to preseason fear to early-season fear to inflicting him to overlook the primary eight video games of the season. Then he suffered a knee harm in Week 13 and missed the remainder of the season.

Brandon Aiyuk’s contractual standoff led to a sluggish begin to the season. In Week 7, he tore his ACL. Trent Williams‘ contractual standoff additionally obtained resolved, however he damage his ankle in Week 11 and did not play once more.

In 2023, McCaffrey and Aiyuk mixed for 3,365 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns. In 2024, they mixed for 722 yards from scrimmage and nil touchdowns.

It is easy to say issues will probably be fantastic with that triumvirate again in motion — however it’s additionally foolhardy.

McCaffrey’s Achilles points got here one yr after a Herculean 2023 wherein he led the NFL in touches, yards from scrimmage and touchdowns scored. McCaffrey has led the NFL in these three classes twice, the opposite coming in 2019. He missed most of every of the subsequent two seasons. We’re midway there this time round, and now he is 29 years outdated.

McCaffrey is indispensable for this staff, and it reveals up most within the passing recreation.

McCaffrey had extra catches for first downs/touchdowns in 2023 than the non-McCaffrey operating backs had catches, interval, in 2024. This actually damage on brief throws — each designed and checkdowns. In 2023, the 49ers led the NFL in anticipated factors added per play on throws to operating backs 5 yards or fewer downfield. In 2024, they have been seventeenth.

Do not forget in regards to the operating recreation, both. San Francisco was third in anticipated factors added per rush in 2023. It was seventeenth in 2024.

Predicting well being is idiot’s errand, however there is not any denying McCaffrey provides a totally totally different dimension to the 49ers’ passing recreation, one that did not exist final yr.

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The remainder of the weapons are up within the air, too. Aiyuk is not anticipated again for the beginning of coaching camp. Ricky Pearsall obtained shot within the chest earlier than final season started and miraculously not solely survived however got here again to play by Week 7. He emerged late within the season, together with an 8/141/1 Week 17 towards the Seahawks, however suffered a hamstring harm in OTAs. Each he and Jauan Jennings, the hard-nosed blocker who confirmed actual chops as a receiver final yr, have vital years forward.

What the 49ers do not have is Deebo Samuel, whom they traded to Washington after a disappointing 2024. Even in a down yr, Samuel led all receiver in common yards after the catch (8.3), and his talent set cannot be duplicated. Maybe we’ll see a extra downfield-based strategy in terms of concentrating on broad receivers this season, with McCaffrey consuming up work beneath.

The neglected side of the 49ers’ offensive downfall in 2024 was the road play. There are main questions in 2025. Colton McKivitz has been inconsistent at proper deal with, and Williams, who turns 37 subsequent week, posted his lowest Professional Soccer Focus grades since he arrived in San Francisco in 2020.

At proper guard, 2024 third-round choose Dominick Puni seems to be a gem, however there are questions at left guard. A possible battle between Ben Bartch, who had began 10 video games within the final three years, and Spencer Burford is not promising. Heart Jake Brendel has graded out as a strong run blocker however poor go blocker every of the final two seasons.

After which there’s Purdy, essentially the most related Mr. Irrelevant ever. Purdy was by no means going to match his all-time environment friendly 2023, however with out McCaffrey to lean on, he struggled in a number of facets, particularly when urgent the ball downfield.

Purdy is at all times going to be a little bit of a gambler. It is how he performs the place, which ends up in increased highs than earlier iterations of Kyle Shanahan’s quarterbacks but in addition results in some actually head-scratching lows. However, Purdy’s not absolutely accountable right here. The 49ers as a staff ranked final in common goal separation per NFL Professional. Utilizing ESPN’s Receiver Scores, Aiyuk went from having the eighth-best “open” rating amongst broad receivers and tight finish in 2023 to 77th in 2024. Samuel was 102nd.

The hope is that McCaffrey supplies extra shops beneath and Pearsall and Aiyuk (ultimately) can be a part of the very good George Kittle in creating openings downfield.

One closing factor on Purdy: He scrambled on over 8% of his dropbacks final season, greater than double his 2023 price, and he was truly fairly proficient at it. Throughout Shanahan’s time with the 49ers, his play motion utilization has regularly declined. In 2019, San Francisco used play motion on almost one-third of its dropbacks, the fourth-highest price within the league. Final yr, it ranked twenty second.

Purdy, nonetheless, has been an efficient under-center, play motion staff in his profession. With out a quick-strike YAC weapon like Samuel and with McCaffrey’s return hopefully offering a lift to the dashing assault, extra play motion may very well be within the playing cards, with Purdy’s mobility changing into a much bigger a part of the passing assault.

49ers protection: How rapidly can newcomers contribute?

The 49ers’ points operating the ball have been startling however not surprising given the accidents.

Their points defending the run have been completely surprising.

It was dangerous all the way in which round. The 49ers had seven defensive linemen/EDGEs/linebackers play not less than 200 snaps towards the run. Simply two — superstars Fred Warner and Nick Bosa — graded out among the many prime 130 league-wide (out of 191).

So an overhaul occurred. Out are De’Vondre Campbell (graded 131st), Leonard Floyd (143rd), Maliek Collins (181st) and Javon Hargrave, who performed in simply three video games. In comes a youth motion. The 49ers spent every of their first 5 picks on protection, together with 4 within the entrance seven.

• First-round EDGE Mykel Williams is a serious athlete who graded out effectively towards the run at Georgia. He’ll line up reverse Bosa to supply a right away increase.
• Second-round defensive deal with Alfred Collins was the nation’s ninth highest-graded defensive inside participant, per PFF’s.
• Third-round linebacker Nick Martin was fourth in all of FBS in tackles.
• Fourth-round defensive deal with CJ West was the nation’s twenty third highest-graded defensive inside participant, together with eleventh towards the run.

The 49ers have additionally introduced again defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who flamed out as Jets head coach however helped San Francisco turn into one of many elite protection in 2019 and 2020.

Collins and West are monstrous our bodies within the center who will possible play massive roles straight away. The 49ers additionally traded for pass-rush specialist Bryce Huff, who struggled to crack the Eagles’ rotation final yr however had 10 sacks with the Jets in 2023.

It is a protection with two stars and lots of tasks — each younger tasks and reclamation tasks. That is not simply up entrance, both. San Francisco wants latest early draft picks like Renardo Green, Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha (as soon as he returns from a torn ACL) to step up. It is loads to ask, however the 49ers are hoping an improved entrance seven will take a few of the stress off.

Outlook: Can main modifications result in higher outcomes?

The 49ers skilled a massive, unprecedented roster exodus this offseason, one which was, frankly, vital partially as a result of a lot of these gamers did not dwell as much as their billing and partially as a result of the staff wanted wage aid. Plus, they paid Purdy.

The 49ers look totally different, they usually really feel totally different. Whereas the core continues to be outdated, it is not fairly as outdated, and the 49ers hope they don’t seem to be as depending on these gamers. On offense, meaning Purdy bettering and Pearsall stepping in and producing straight away. On protection, the staff will lean on latest draft picks relatively than ageing massive names.

There may be, merely, much more uncertainty with these 49ers. Their well being must be higher, however are the celebs who obtained injured in 2024 nonetheless the identical gamers pre-injury? They invested a ton of draft capital up entrance, however what number of of these gamers are able to be high-level contributors?

Greater than something, the 49ers want to return to the bodily unit they have been at their peak — a message Kittle himself mentioned earlier this offseason.

49ers betting odds

All odds through FanDuel Sportsbook.

The good groups have proven their talents to pivot masterfully. The early Mahomes Chiefs have been an explosive staff that gained high-scoring video games. The more moderen Mahomes Chiefs have leaned on a quarterback who’s turn into elite at making the best play and a protection restocked by very good drafting and under-the-radar free agent finds. The 49ers have actually tried to emulate that path. Whether or not it really works or not stays to be decided.

Earlier ‘NFL Ideas’ tales

1. Projecting 2024 rookie QB class in 2025: Can Caleb Williams bounce back, Jayden Daniels continue his rise?