In 2019, the San Francisco 49ers were on the doorstep of greatness. They made the Super Bowl with a record of 13-3 and had a fourth-quarter lead only for it to disappear. The season was a season of comebacks for the 49ers, as before last season they wallowed in futility for years. This season looks to be a good one for the 49ers, so let’s get down to looking through their team.
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Offseason Recap
The 2020 offseason for the 49ers was quite average, they lost a little and gained a little. They re-signed defensive lineman Arik Armstead to a five year, $85M contract, which will keep him tied to the Niners till 2025. They also re-signed safety Jimmie Ward to a three year, $28.5M contract that will see him tied to the Niners till 2023. The Niners also reportedly signed superstar tight end George Kittle to a five year, $75M contract that will see Kittle play out his career in San Fran until 2026.
The 49ers free agency departures this offseason was Emmanuel Sanders, who was the biggest departure as he was Jimmy Garoppolo‘s favorite target. That was the only real big departure for the Niners, all the other departures were role players or players who saw very little time on the field of importance. As for the players who retired, long time Niners offensive tackle Joe Staley hung up his cleats after a long and productive 12-year career which saw him make six Pro Bowl appearances. Garrett Celek also retired this offseason, a minor loss for the Niners.
As for the acquisitions and trades and draft picks that the Niners made this offseason, they traded away defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts, who was the Niners leader on defense last season. They received the Colts first-round pick, which they used to draft defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, a product out of South Carolina. They also had their original draft pick in the first round, so with their second first-round draft pick they drafted Brandon Aiyuk, a product out of Arizona State. These picks refill what the Niners lost in the offseason, so it was a productive draft overall for the Niners’ major picks.
Offense
The Niners offense last season was a run focused offense, but this year fans should expect to see more passing, with targets like Deebo Samuel expected to have breakout seasons, along with the usual targets like Kittle, who has a fresh new contract. New faces like Aiyuk, who has impressed in training camp thus far, and Trent Taylor, who has impressed in camp so far after coming off of a season-ending fractured foot injury which had some complications. Also coming back healthy and hopeful is Jerick McKinnon, who is coming off of two consecutive season-ending injuries. McKinnon will add both a swift runner into the mix of backs in the backfield, and a great route runner to throw to.
The main focal point for the Niners offense will always be Garoppolo, who had an up and down season last year and often faced criticism for his inability to bring the Niners passing game up to its full potential. Most people believe this is going to be a major step up from last year for Garoppolo, as he has now had a full, healthy year to step into the Niners offense and get to Kyle Shanahan‘s convoluted system. Jimmy will be able to throw to his many different healthy receivers, and he will more than likely have a noticeable improvement performance-wise in comparison to last season.
The 49ers backfield this year will be focused around McKinnon, and Tevin Coleman, and Raheem Mostert. This trio should be able to replicate the Niners’ success they experienced last season easily. I see no reason why the Niners shouldn’t be able to run the ball with grace and power as they did last year, especially behind Kittle’s blocking, and an offensive line that looks to be in good shape going into the season.
Defense
The Niners defense underwent a shift this offseason, with Buckner, a franchise defensive player, being traded. To fill the gap left in his absence, the Niners drafted Kinlaw and gave Armstead a massive new contract. With these moves, the Niners are expecting to have the same amount of productivity out of their defense. The secondary didn’t change much in the offseason, so they’re just hoping to keep the same amount of productivity out of their secondary as they got last year. A secondary that stays the same is key to a team’s long term success, as that’s often a major factor in separating a contending team.
Predicting the 53 Man Roster
QB (3) – Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard
This room is one of the better, and more experienced rooms in the NFC, as all three have seen extended starting time and have the experience necessary to step in if needed. Garoppolo will obviously be the starter going into the season, Mullens will be his backup, and Beathard will be the third-string option.
RB (4) – Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman, Jeff Wilson Jr.
The Niners running back room last year was one of the best in the league, and this year should be no different, with Mostert earning a starting job. He will be backed up by McKinnon, Coleman, and Wilson. Although Wilson will most likely never see any extended snaps and will see lots of special teams play,
WR (8) – Deebo Samuel, Trent Taylor, Brandon Aiyuk, Dante Pettis, J.J. Nelson, Tavon Austin, Richie James Jr, Kevin White
This group should be able to perform at a high level this year, once fully healthy. Samuel will be starting the year sitting out, along with James both should be back by around week five. The real ones to watch in this group are Austin and Aiyuk. Aiyuk has impressed Shanahan thus far in training camp. Austin is kind of the wild card of the group because his main job will be to return punts and kickoffs this season. He should however see more snaps due to the injuries mentioned earlier, so he will be one to watch for sure.
TE (3) – George Kittle, Jordan Reed, Ross Dwelley
Obviously, the person who will be doing most of the work in this group is Kittle. Reed should serve as a quality backup if he can manage to stay healthy, and Dwelley will most likely be on special teams.
OL (9) – Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Weston Richburg, Daniel Brunskill, Mike McGlinchey, Ben Garland, Justin Skule, Colton McKivitz, Tom Compton
One of the Niners’ biggest offseason additions was adding former Washington offensive tackle Williams to the team, he should provide a stout force on the line, along with the other starters. The other starters this year will be similar to last season, with the exception of Richburg who will most likely start the season on the PUP list.
DL (3) – Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Jones, Solomon Thomas, Kentavius Street
This unit should be able to perform up to the other parts of the defenses standards, as long as Kinlaw can step up and lead the unit to success as a rookie. Jones will be a strong reinforcing force to this unit.
EDGE (6) – Nick Bosa, Dion Jordan, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, Ronald Blair III, Jullian Taylor
This unit is the Niners defensive powerhouse, with their two best defensive players coming from this unit. Bosa should be able to pick up from where he left off last year, along with Armstead. Ford this year should be able to find some consistency if he stays healthy and well. Jordan, Taylor, and Blair are quality backups who will fill in nicely if needed.
LB (4) – Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander, Joe Walker, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
The Niners linebacker group is rather small, but the starters are one of the most effective two linebackers on any team. Warner and Alexander should be able to team up to form a tackling, hard-hitting, and punishing machine. With Alexander coming back full time from injury this year, he should be even more effective. Walker and Flannigan-Fowles should be quality backups.
CB (6) – Richard Sherman, Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon, K’Waun Williams, Jason Verrett, Jamar Taylor
This group should only get better this year, with Sherman, and Moseley holding down the starting jobs. Sherman should be able to keep up his high-level play despite his age creeping up on him slowly. Moseley is ready to step in full time and get into being a starter for the foreseeable future for this team. The backups are experienced and have veterans around them to show them the ropes. Witherspoon should see a lot of snaps this year, along with Williams.
SAF (4) – Jaquiski Tartt, Marcell Harris, Jimmie Ward, Tarvarius Moore
Ward and Tartt will do just as good as last year for this team, as Ward will be able to take a step up, as he looks to be the next great safety in the NFL. Tartt should be able to step up and become excellent in the Niners system this season as a full-time starter. Harris and Moore should be good backups.
ST (3) – Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Kyle Nelson
Gould converted on 74 percent of his field goals last year, so he will undoubtedly need to step up this year, and Wishnowsky punted for an average of 45 yards last year, which is average. Nelson should be a decent long snapper just like most are in the league.
COVID (2) – Shon Coleman, Travis Benjamin
2020 Season Outlook
The 2020 Outlook for this Niners team is quite positive. The competition in the NFC West got a lot better for the most part, with the Arizona Cardinals, and Seattle Seahawks taking major strides towards being contenders.
Season Prediction: 12-4 and NFC West division winners.
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