The 49ers need some major improvements from players to bounce back in 2025.
The San Francisco 49ers are all about internal improvement this offseason, as they let go of several veterans and watched others walk in free agency without making any major moves.
With a focus on getting younger, the 49ers instead pivoted to the draft, where they tied for an NFL-high of 11 selections, with a good crop of potential starters coming into the organization.
2024 wasn’t the year that San Francisco expected, as they had their worst season in the Kyle Shanahan era. But, many are optimistic that the 49ers will bounce back in 2025, as they’re currently the favorites to win the NFC West.
To do so, they’ll need some improvements from several players. So, let’s identify one candidate to improve at every position in 2025, starting with the offense.
Quarterback: Brock Purdy
Well, there aren’t that many candidates, given that Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen are no longer on the roster. But, even if they were, Brock Purdy would be the logical answer.
After a strong 2023 campaign where he led the league in several efficiency metrics, Purdy didn’t have as good of a season last year, throwing for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
The quarterback didn’t have Brandon Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey for much of the year, which resulted in fewer deep completions and checkdowns. As a result, Purdy was more reliant on his legs to create plays, looking to make magic happen.
The numbers were still fairly solid, but there’s definitely room for growth in 2025 as the 49ers return to full strength, which Purdy himself has acknowledged.
Running Back: Christian McCaffrey
I was tempted to go with Isaac Guerendo, who should step into a bigger role as the RB2.
But, the candidate to improve has to be Christian McCaffrey, whose unavailability significantly hindered the 49ers’ offense in 2024. McCaffrey is San Francisco’s best weapon regardless of position, and the run game took a clear hit with his absence.
He saw just four games of action last season, rushing for only four yards per carry in the worst year of his career.
Reports suggest that McCaffrey is looking fresh so far this offseason, which is a good sign for the offense. If he can stay healthy, the 49ers offense should look better in 2025, both on the ground and in the air.
Wide Receiver: Ricky Pearsall
This could be Brandon Aiyuk for similar reasons as McCaffrey. But, quite frankly, we don’t know the timeline of when Aiyuk will be back or how exactly he’ll look upon his return.
So, the candidate to improve is Ricky Pearsall, who had a tumultuous rookie season that finished on a high note.
The potential with Pearsall is clearly there. Now, it’s time to take advantage of a full offseason and continue gaining that rapport with Brock Purdy.
The issue for the 2024 first-round pick has been injuries. Pearsall missed a part of organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp with an injury, but will be back for training camp.
If he can stay healthy, he’s bound for a bigger role in the offense in 2025.
Tight End: Brayden Willis
George Kittle had a phenomenal 2024 season. So, he’s not the best candidate for an improvement. And Luke Farrell just arrived in San Francisco.
So, we’re going further down the roster to Brayden Willis, who played in 10 games last season primarily on special teams.
Kittle and Farrell will be the No. 1 and No. 2 tight ends, so Willis’s ceiling appears to be the No. 3 spot over Ross Dwelley. To earn the spot, he’ll have to show continued growth as a blocker and perhaps have some work at fullback in a hybrid role.
The 49ers have usually carried at least three tight ends, so there’s a spot for Willis to earn on the active roster. He’s the best candidate to improve, given the circumstances.
Offensive Line: Trent Williams
This one was an interesting decision.
The 49ers have a clear-cut younger candidate who should see growth in right guard Dominick Puni. They also have Colton McKivitz, entering his third year as a starter, and Ben Bartch, who could be a first-year starter.
But, surprisingly, I’m going with Trent Williams for a few reasons.
Of course, there’s the health aspect. Williams played in just 10 games last year, missing out on the final seven, while also dealing with nagging injuries when on the field. Health has been an issue for him, as he hasn’t played a full season in over a decade.
But, there was also the fact that his play declined last season, albeit that could very well be due to the injuries.
Williams’s play has slowly slipped over the past two seasons, although that’s still good enough to be one of the best tackles in the NFL. But, he’s got room to grow coming off a healthy offseason where the 49ers have made sure to load manage effectively so far.
When he’s healthy, Williams is a force and opens up the 49ers’ run game. But, he needs to stay healthy for at least 14-15 games, especially considering the team’s depth at tackle.