Is it the return of Saleh, free agent moves, or the draft class?
The offseason for the San Francisco 49ers started with a mass exodus of players, followed by the return of Robert Saleh as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, and an infusion of new, young talent during the NFL draft. John Lynch outlined the beginning of the offseason plan at the NFL combine by speaking about the team’s desire to get younger and cheaper with their payroll.
Free agency saw the 49ers make modest additions to fortify certain groups on the roster, such as Luke Ferrell, Jason Pinnock, and Mac Jones, but no big splashes, as Lynch detailed with his initial approach. Following the draft, extensions started rolling in as Fred Warner, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy all inked new, lucrative contracts without issue. The final piece was trading for EDGE rusher Bryce Huff from Philadelphia.
What was the best move of the offseason for the 49ers? The painless extension process? Bringing back Saleh? The draft class?
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus made his choice clear.
Drafting dominant run defenders
San Francisco’s biggest defensive flaw in 2024 was its porous run defense. The team’s 28th-ranked PFF run-defense grade marked its worst placement in that category since 2016. The 49ers responded by reuniting with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and acquiring multiple run stuffers in the draft. Edge defender Mykel Williams earned an excellent 86.6 PFF run-defense grade across his three seasons at Georgia. Alfred Collins and CJ West both ranked among the top 20 FBS defensive tackles in PFF run-defense grade in 2024. Those three, along with Nick Bosa, will be the new foundation of the 49ers’ run defense up front.
Saleh is here to fix the 49ers’ defense and, more importantly, the run defense. The only way the 49ers can feast as pass rushers is by stopping the run. The big boys up front are meant to hold blocks and open up lanes for the speedy linebackers to fill the gaps as run defenders.
Addressing the run defense was imperative and is the key to upgrading the 49ers’ defense and returning them to top-ten status.