Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Monday, January 27th, 2025
Robert Saleh is an omen: 6 signs that the 49ers’ luck might be changing (paywall)
“[Shanahan] won’t have to check in to see if the system is being applied correctly (like he did with Wilks) or if the DC is ready for this (like he did with Sorensen). He won’t have to worry that the DC isn’t energetic enough. He won’t have to check the temperature of the defensive players to see if they’re onboard. He’ll also have somebody who might push back at some Shanahan decisions, which was always a healthy thing during Saleh’s first DC run.
What I’ve heard from 49ers people the last few days: Now Shanahan can devote all his energies to getting the offense churning like it did in 2019 and 2023 — the 49ers’ two Super Bowl trips in this era.
The implication is that Shanahan may have been spread a little thin the last two seasons, having to oversee the entire team, call the offense, and closely monitor the defensive ups and downs.”
Top 10 49ers free agents: Who stays, who plays and who’s probably gone (paywall)
“Hargrave, 31, won’t command the four-year, $84 million contract he received from the 49ers two years ago, but he’ll likely land a bigger deal than the 49ers are willing to pay after his two seasons with the team failed to meet expectations. He joined the 49ers after he had a career-best 11 sacks with the Eagles, but he had just seven sacks in 2023 and later admitted he didn’t work as hard after receiving his windfall from the 49ers.
Last season, at the start of training camp, Hargrave said he had been more dedicated in his offseason training and was in “way better shape than I was last year.” The 49ers didn’t benefit much from the fruits of that labor: Hargrave suffered a season-ending triceps injury in Week 3.”
Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft: 49ers address the O-line
“While Membou played nearly all his collegiate snaps at right tackle, Jeremiah envisions him transitioning to guard at the NFL level. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Jeremiah may feel Membou’s skill set and frame suggest a higher ceiling as an interior lineman. Jeremiah even compares him to a New York Jets guard.
“Membou is the most technically sound offensive lineman in this class,” Jeremiah wrote. “He reminds me of Aljah Vera-Tucker when he entered the league. Membou will be an exceptional guard who can also play tackle if needed.”
Membou, a two-year starter, earned an outstanding 90.4 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus this season, ranking fifth nationally among collegiate offensive linemen. He also posted impressive marks of 87.6 in run blocking and 85.4 in pass blocking. Over 410 pass-blocking snaps, Membou allowed just nine pressures and zero sacks during the 2024 season.”
49ers a perfect landing spot for one of NFL draft’s youngest players
“Nic Scourton isn’t perfect, but nobody else in this class possesses his blend of technical prowess, bend, size, and power. He’s playing too heavy right now, but losing the unnecessary weight he’s currently carrying on his frame should only make him more dangerous as an arc rusher.
Scourton’s pass-rush plan is artwork, and the suddenness and fluidity he already plays with at 280 is terrifying. He’ll be one of the youngest players in the class while already possessing nuance far beyond his years.
Scourton’s naturally thick lower half makes him a sturdy edge setter, and there’s a chance he’ll continue growing into his frame while building a more consistent power element to his game.”
Would 49ers finally spend big to fill starting OL spot in free agency?
“A series of nagging injuries plagued [Teven] Jenkins’ 2024 campaign, but even still, he managed to produce well on the interior of this Bears’ offensive line. His 75.8 PFF pass-blocking grade stands as a career high for the 26-year-old guard after he allowed just a 3.8% pressure rate (also a career high).”
49ers Aim to be Faster and More Exotic on Defense Under Robert Saleh
“A major priority will be to increase team speed on defense, specifically in the secondary, via the draft and free agency. There also is a cry to be more innovative on defense. The team was criticized for being too vanilla on defense and never moving away from the base package. The belief is they will be a bit more exotic next season and throw in a lot more wrinkles and surprises.”