49ers Breakout Candidates for 2025
Who is the next San Francisco diamond in the rough?
The San Francisco 49ers have reloaded with young talent after a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024. Looking to bounce back, which players might have a breakout year to help them accomplish the turnaround in 2025?
RB Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2024 NFL Draft, saw a heavier workload his rookie season. After injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, Guerendo appeared in 16 games last season. He got the starting role in weeks 14 and 15, where he had 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns, followed by 16 carries for 57 yards. He finished the season with 84 attempts for 420 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. With McCaffrey fully healthy, and the departure of Jordan Mason, Guerendo comes into camp as the clear RB2 on the depth chart.
The belief is that he will be utilized more than Mason was during McCaffrey’s 2023 Offensive Player of the Year bout, seeing how they would like to preserve McCaffrey as much as possible while still keeping his carries considerably heavy. He’ll be competing with rookie Jordan James for snaps, but will have the head start and advantage going into camp.
WR Jacob Cowing
With the departure of Deebo Samuel, the absence of Brandon Aiyuk, and the emergence of Jauan Jennings, the 49ers are looking at who will be playing in the WR2/WR3 roles this upcoming season. With the early suggestion that Ricky Pearsall will contribute to the WR2 role, second-year wideout Jacob Cowing looks to make his case for more time on the field. Early reports from OTAs suggest that Cowing, the 135th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has had a strong outing.
”Cowing’s had a great OTAs so far and getting in and out of cuts, being the first one to lead lines, and showing guys how routes are supposed to be run. He’s taken a huge leap there, so really excited for him and his development”
-QB Brock Purdy on the development of Jacob Cowing.
It’s safe to say that Cowing is becoming more comfortable in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, with the ability to lead and help the younger guys get acclimated. While he couldn’t crack the offensive lineup last year, his ability as a returner shows that the coaching staff trusts him with the ball in his hands, which may be more prevalent than ever this year.
CB Renardo Green
Second-year CB Renardo Green, who was drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL draft in 2024, had a strong performance in his rookie season, recording 61 total tackles, 13 passes defended, and one interception in 17 games. With the loss of Charvarius Ward to the Indianapolis Colts, Green looks to build on his 69.2 PFF graded season, solidifying himself in the CB2 role behind Deommodore Lenoir. With the return of Robert Saleh being exciting for the entire defense, Green will have to prove that he can adapt to the scheme switch, but if he can do that, his added experience and talent could put the league on notice.
LB Dee Winters
Losing Dre Greenlaw is one of the sorest spots in this off-season. Beloved by the team and the fan base, it was his injury that turned the tide of Super Bowl 58. Now the focus shifts as Fred Warner is looking for his new partner-in-crime, and reports suggest that Winters has the strongest case to start next to the four-time All-Pro. Winters, a third-year linebacker out of TCU, has been having an excellent off-season, making remarkable plays in OTAs in the starting role. With the drafting and uprising of rookie LB Nick Martin, who was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Winters will have to continue to play well if he wants to trot out onto the field as part of the starting 11. As it stands now Winters seems to be the choice at the LB2 position opposite Warner.
Many things need to go right for the San Francisco 49ers this year if they want to overcome the rough season they endured last year. Ultimately, if they can get great production out of the young guys and everyone stays healthy, they can be a big problem in the NFC.