There aren’t many ways to slice the San Francisco 49ers’ 2024 season that don’t reveal some level of catastrophe.
The good news is they appear poised for a bounce back in 2025 and a way-too-early ESPN power ranking reflects how quickly the 49ers may jump back into the mix as a playoff team.
San Francisco in ESPN’s ranking sits at No. 13 after finishing last year in the bottom 10 of most power rankings. Their jump up is facilitated by a change at defensive coordinator and he prospect of Brock Purdy’s contract extension getting done early in the offseason.
Via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner:
The 49ers have plenty of important business to handle, and they already started by bringing back defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The rest of their decisions hinge on when and how much they pay Purdy, who is eligible for a contract extension for the first time. There’s little doubt Purdy will cash in, but if that deal doesn’t come together quickly, it complicates matters. The Niners have roughly two dozen players scheduled for free agency, and they need to spend resources to bolster both lines. Getting Purdy signed quickly would go a long way in setting the stage for an important offseason.
It’s going to take more than just getting Purdy’s extension done, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the 49ers entering the 2025 season.
They have a very favorable slate of opponents after having the league’s toughest schedule in 2025. They also figure to address some glaring needs through free agency and the draft, and they’re on track to get a healthy Christian McCaffrey after he dealt with injuries for most of last season. Trent Williams and Fred Warner will also have a chance to come back healthy, paving the way for the 49ers to get some star power back that they desperately missed last year.