After stumbling to a 6-11 finish in 2024, the San Francisco 49ers embark upon a pivotal offseason.
Despite slumping to the NFC West cellar, the puzzle pieces could quickly fall back into place for the 49ers to march right back into Super Bowl contention.
Pro Football Focus examined all 32 NFL teams by offseason assets and San Francisco is positioned very well in that regard.
Pro Football Focus measured teams’ offseason assets by grouping draft capital, cap space and restructure potential. According to PFF, the 49ers have the seventh-best means to get better.
PFF ranked San Francisco’s 2025 NFL draft capital as the ninth-best in the league. The 49ers are expected to have 10 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, including the No. 11 overall pick and four in the first three rounds.
Plus, the 49ers have the 10th-most effective cap space of any NFL team. Effective cap space is the the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster.
That’s a lot of retooling ammo for San Francisco.
A recent two-round mock from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler sees the 49ers addressing their trenches in the first two rounds by drafting Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou and Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
Some help up front on both sides of the football seems like a logical step toward the 49ers returning to championship contention. Four picks in the draft’s first two days and 10 selections overall gives San Francisco a chance to seriously bolster its offensive and defensive lines.
Looking for another talented edge rusher in this draft to pair with Nick Bosa could work wonders for the franchise as well. San Francisco could also use some help at cornerback after Charvarius Ward indicated he may not be back with the franchise once he enters free agency.
San Francisco will address some of its needs via free agency as well. If the 49ers opt against bringing Dre Greenlaw back, an experienced linebacker to pair with Fred Warner feels like a necessity for the 49ers’ defense.
The great news for San Francisco fans is that general manager John Lynch and the franchise have plenty of avenues with which to enhance this roster for 2025.
Beyond any roster moves with the draft and free agency, San Francisco also feels like an obvious bounce-back candidate based on improved health alone.
Healthy returns for injured stars such as left tackle Trent Williams, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey should set the stage for the 49ers’ offense to be vastly improved.
Mix in the emergence of wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall to go along with a resurgent season from Deebo Samuel and the 49ers have the offensive skill weapons to be one of the league’s best offenses.
San Francisco finished the 2024 season with the NFL’s No. 4 total offense but just its No. 14 scoring offense.
Some savvy drafting, several key free agent acquisitions and improved health could pave the way back toward Super Bowl contention in 2025.