Seven things 49ers must do for Super Bowl return in 2021
The 2020 NFL season was expected to be a “revenge tour” for the 49ers, after a narrow loss in Super Bowl LIV left a sour note on what was a breakout season for an organization that had seen a whole lot of losing in the preceding half-decade.A slew of injuries, inconsistency at vital positions on offense and defense and a midseason upheaval from the Bay Area due to COVID-19 restrictions put that tour on hold, as the 49ers finished 6-10 and went from first to worst in the NFC West.With Super Bowl LV now in the books, the NFL offseason has begun in earnest. Let’s examine the seven things the 49ers must do in order to find themselves back in the Big Game next February at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Seeing Patrick Mahomes running for his life throughout Sunday’s Super Bowl showed the importance of a talented defensive line. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ front four harassed the star quarterback all night, and held the NFL’s best offense to just nine points.
The 49ers arguably had the NFL’s top defensive line in 2019, and with the organization hopeful Nick Bosa will return at 100 percent following an ACL tear in Week 2 of the 2020 season, the unit should return to being among the league’s best. Arik Armstead also will be back after signing a long-term extension last offseason.
Rookie first-round pick Javon Kinlaw made strides in his rookie season, and should be even better with a full year as a professional under his belt.
Kerry Hyder likely will get a bigger payday elsewhere, but the 49ers could try and convince him to take a discount to return given his close relationship with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
Either way, adding a solid free agent along with a prospect either in the draft or UDFA market will reinforce the team’s depth in that unit, which should again be the backbone of the 49ers’ defense in 2021.
Sunday night’s game also showed the value of having solid backups on the offensive line, as Kansas City was without several of its top players from that group, and suffered accordingly.
Both Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens spent significant time on the shelf with injuries in 2020, and protection of whoever is under center needs to be a priority this offseason.
Re-signing Trent Williams is widely considered the first order of business for the 49ers’ front office, as the left tackle enjoyed a solid first season in the Bay Area and seems quite content with his new team after a decade toiling in Washington.
Better play across the board will be needed, but with Williams, Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Daniel Brunskill at center (Weston Richburg’s status for 2021 remains uncertain), Colton McKivitz at right guard and Mike McGlinchey holding down right tackle, this unit will be pivotal to getting the 49ers back into Super Bowl contention.
Richard Sherman already has indicated that he is unlikely to return to the 49ers in 2021, and general manager John Lynch will need to focus on adding talent to a group that had a down season in 2020.
Most mock drafts currently have the 49ers eyeing a cornerback in the first round of this year’s draft, and there could be even more new faces added through free agency once the new league year begins on March 17. The 2019 version of the 49ers’ defense fed off of turnovers forced, and after finishing 21st in 2020 in takeaways, they’ll need to add more ballhawks to this group before next season.
Especially in a division now featuring Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray as the other three quarterbacks, being able to cover consistently and limit big plays will be the difference between another postseason run and a January spent on the couch.
Last offseason, it was star tight end George Kittle.
In 2021, Fred Warner is the man the 49ers need to back up the brinks truck for. The player NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers called “the best” earlier in the season, Warner earned his first All-Pro designation in 2020, and is in the final year of his rookie deal.
There is reported interest in a big extension on both sides, and with a new defensive coordinator taking over in DeMeco Ryans, keeping continuity with Warner in the middle will accelerate the 49ers’ return to being one of the NFL’s top defenses.
There has been unrelenting speculation around Jimmy Garoppolo’s future with the 49ers from outside the organization, despite continued remarks from Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan reinforcing their belief in the QB.
Nevertheless, we just saw the Buccaneers part ways with former top pick Jameis Winston and take a chance on Tom Brady, and it paid off with the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. They aren’t parallel situations, but with players like Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson and Kirk Cousins potentially being available this offseason, the 49ers’ brass will need to make a firm decision on whether any of those players can be an upgrade for Garoppolo without sacrificing significant draft capital, which Lynch has said he is reticent to do.
Josh Rosen was brought back last week on a futures contract, and could compete for the backup job after coming in late last season. Unless the perfect deal comes along, it’s likely we’ll see Garoppolo, Rosen and a rookie draft pick or veteran free agent filling out the 49ers’ QB room. But either way, this offseason is the time for Lynch and Shanahan to either commit to Garoppolo or find a more productive replacement.
YAC Bros Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle represent a solid future for the 49ers’ offensive weapons in Shanahan’s offense. Add in Raheem Mostert when healthy, and this is a productive group that can make plays.
But with all of those players outside of Aiyuk limited to eight or fewer games in 2020, depth at receiver, tight end and running back just wasn’t there for the 49ers. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk might be a difficult re-sign for the 49ers given salary cap constraints, and he was an integral part of Shanahan’s run-blocking scheme for the past four seasons.
Finding another talented wideout, ideally a bigger target who can go up and snare jump balls in the end zone over smaller defensive backs would be a solid addition in the draft or free agency.
Another tight end to spell Kittle and create some mismatches also would provide a new element, but Kendrick Bourne being your No. 3 receiver simply isn’t going to get it done in today’s NFL.
Talent is the name of the game in the NFL, and simply put, the 49ers never can have enough of it.
We saved the most obvious one for last.
The 49ers ended the season with 18 players on injured reserve, and Garoppolo, Kittle, Mostert and Samuel missed a combined 35 games. Losing the core of your offense for that much of the season makes winning infinitely more difficult.
Factor in a season-ending injury for Nick Bosa and just five games for No. 1 cornerback Richard Sherman, and arguably no team was more hampered by injuries in 2020.
Luckily there won’t be any games at MetLife Stadium in 2021, and as long as the majority of this roster can stay on the field for close to 16 games, there’s no reason to think the 49ers can’t be a playoff team once again in 2021, and perhaps even a Super Bowl contender.
