At least for the moment, ESPN doesn’t view the San Francisco 49ers as legitimate Super Bowl contenders entering the 2025 NFL season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler broke down his NFL overhaul tiers as the offseason arrives.
Fowler grouped teams into categories of “still major contenders,” “on the cusp,” “need a postseason breakthrough,” “teetering contenders,” “headed on the right track,” “stuck in the middle… but a move or two away,” “stuck in QB purgatory,” “this could go either way,” “new coach, new direction,” “rebuild in the works” and “yep, still rebuilding.”
While the 49ers aren’t in that dreaded land of quarterback purgatory or in a full-on rebuild, Fowler doesn’t view San Francisco as a major player either.
Fowler tabbed the 49ers alongside the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts in the “stuck in the middle… but a move or two away” grouping.
Here’s what Fowler had to say about the 49ers’ situation.
The 49ers’ subpar 2024 shouldn’t prompt a full rebuild. And, really, is there any choice but to run it back? The roster is saddled with bloated salaries only suitable for a win-now plan. Scaling back in parts is a sound strategy — and the 49ers are doing so by designating defensive tackle Javon Hargrave a post-June 1 cut and seeking to trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.
Once those two moves are made, the 49ers can focus on a Brock Purdy extension. Star tight end George Kittle also is a year from free agency. Where San Francisco needs to improve is along the offensive line; it was thin before guard Aaron Banks was set to reach free agency. – Fowler, ESPN.
While the 49ers certainly have some tough free agency decisions to make and an aging corps, it’s crazy how quickly the national narrative shifts on a team that dealt with a litany of injury issues during the 2024 season.
Sure, San Francisco sunk to a 6-11 finish in 2024, which represented the cellar in the NFC West. But, the 49ers played for and nearly won the Super Bowl just the season before.
Given a healthy group around him, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy directed San Francisco to the NFC championship game in 2022 and to the brink of a world championship in 2023. Of course, Purdy was also injured early in that 2022 NFC championship game or the tale that season in Philadelphia might also have been different.
The 49ers could certainly look to beef up their offensive line with their No. 11 overall selection and perhaps find an eventual heir apparent to left tackle Trent Williams.
Some 2025 NFL mock drafts even like the 49ers to use multiple early picks along its offensive line.
Lest football fans forget, the NFL world isn’t too far removed from Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts being under fire to close the 2023 campaign. After a 10-1 start to begin the 2023 season, Philadelphia lost six of its final seven games, including its wild card date at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-9.
Of course, the Eagles rebounded to capture the NFC’s No. 2 seed entering the playoffs and captured the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy with a 40-22 romp over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
With the right offseason moves and a good bill of health, San Francisco could reenter that top of the NFC and NFL pecking order in a hurry.
As it currently stands, Fowler had 16 NFL teams ranked in tiers above San Francisco as the offseason begins.