The 49ers State of the Union
The 49ersHub team breaks down the superlatives of the 49ers going into the season!
The State of the Union. A time to reflect on what lays ahead. For the San Francisco 49ers, they’re somewhere between competing for the NFC title game, or a top-10 pick. That leaves a lot of room for what the 2025 season might look like.
Ahead are some of the superlatives that the 49ersHub team voted on as we turn the page to a new season, and a chance at redemption.
Vibes Going into the Season: Cautious optimism.
Everyone knows that when healthy, the 49ers are a threat to win the NFC and the title. Yet, when things go wrong, they seem to go very wrong. That pattern has left fans in a very cautious state of optimism. However, this year does feel a little different. The roster isn’t as ironclad as it once was, and now Brock Purdy is getting big money. Still, this team has more than enough talent and coaching to compete.
Other votes:
Keep writing us off!
Stressed, but intrigued.
BOUNCE BACK SZN!
The window is closing.
Kyle Shanahan Approval Rating: 90%
Is Kyle Shanahan perfect? Of course not. But he’s a pretty easy bet to make each year. He may lack the ability to squeeze the water from a rock if the roster is barren like Mike Tomlin, or carry the same vibes as Dan Campbell, but he’s without a doubt one of the elite offensive minds in the league. If we’re going to battle, having a tactical genius improves your odds of victory greatly. He isn’t perfect, but who is?
Other votes:
80%
75%
95%
75%
100%
95%
John Lynch/Front Office Approval Rating: 80-85%
Perhaps there was a bit of a stumble when Adam Peters left for Washington. Perhaps John Lynch was a tad slow to recognize his mistakes. And perhaps they’ll forever draft a running back on day two who’ll be quickly outperformed by a UDFA. But there’s been grace in their failings. Ultimately, Lynch and company have built a competitive team more than once. Resetting has been difficult, but their eye for talent is strong.
Other votes:
90% (“Has gone up as of recently with the early extensions of Purdy, Warner, and Kittle.”
65% (“While the 49ers front office has not been afraid to spend big money to transform this roster into a year in and year out title contender, but the prior drama each off-season over contracts has overshadowed some of the really good moves they have made. This offseason shows the front offices strides towards repairing that so this number could jump soon.”
75%
90%
Breakout Player: Ricky Pearsall
It might be cheating a little, but we have big dreams for Pearsall. The former first-round pick couldn’t possibly have a worse start to the year, right? So, the gunshot subsided, getting off the ground with a few big performances is incredibly promising. Size and route running? Sign me up.
Other votes:
Renardo Green
Jacob Cowing (x2)
Dee Winters
Bryce Huff
Impact Off-Season Addition: Robert Saleh
The big-ticket free agent of the offseason will do his work from the sidelines. The defense slowly, but surely, slid downhill after Saleh left for the Big Apple. Now he’s back! And there’s little doubt on what he’ll bring to the team, his Jets stint can be summed up to issues well out of his control, from ownership to quarterback issues.
Other votes:
Luke Farrell (“If this signing truly makes Kittle more available in passing game, this is a very impactful.”
Nick Martin
Bryce Huff x2
Mykel Williams
Rookie, We’re Most Excited About: Alfred Collins
Just edging out the first-round selection, Collins will be counted on big time early on. The edge was solidified with new additions, but it always had a star presence. The interior was going to be the bigger issue, and Collins was an incredible value in the draft to solve that issue. This is a player I was excited for before he was a 49er, but he’ll be tasked with revitalizing a run defense that struggled mightily last year.
Other votes:
Mykel Williams (“Saleh has shown he loves versatility along the defensive line in his system and Williams is just the perfect player to make an impact in year one.”
Upton Stout
Nick Martin
Jordan Watkins x2
Biggest Concern: A little bit of everything.
No consensus from the team here, which speaks to the state of the roster as it stands. There isn’t a clear weakness, but there isn’t much certainty either. Health with this team will always be at the forefront of our minds. The offensive line isn’t particularly talented, but the scheme covers it up some. The defensive lines’ reinforcements are promising, but leave the unit quite young. The secondary behind them will have to be the group stepping up.
Team MVP: Christian McCaffrey
It’s rebound season! The offense can and has operated just fine without McCaffrey. The weapons are good, and most running backs can find success within this scheme. However, CMC is the back-breaking component to this equation. His versatility and pure ability, combined with Kyle Shanahan’s playcalling, is a combination few teams can fathom. The 2023 OPOY is back and healthy.
Other votes:
Brock Purdy x2
Trent Williams
Fred Warner
George Kittle
2025 Record Prediction: 11-6
This is where caution and optimism meet. The 49ers schedule have one of the easiest schedules in the league, and that alone should net them a ~.500 record. Should the team find luck in the health department, then the ceiling is nearly as high as it has always been under this regime. However, they may not be the dominant buzz saw they’ve been in the past, with questions at receiver, defensive tackle, and the offensive line.