The 49ers are deep enough that the All-Pro conversation doesn’t stop at one or two stars. At the midway point of the season, San Francisco has a cluster of players sitting in the thick of award races, and a few of them look like legitimate candidates to land on the All-Pro team in 2026.
Brock Purdy is right in the middle of that picture. He was the MVP frontrunner a few weeks ago and still remains in the mix, even after Joe Burrow moved ahead as the favorite.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell had Purdy at No. 2 in his midseason MVP rankings, and his case is built on more than just wins. Purdy leads the league in QBR and EPA per dropback, ranks first in success rate as a passer, and owns the NFL’s lowest sack rate at 3.3%.
He has also been a real weapon on the ground, with 23 first downs as a runner, second only to Josh Allen, and he’s third in rushing EPA behind Allen and Drake Maye.
Barnwell also pointed out that Purdy’s production has come with plenty of help around him, but he still deserves more credit for driving the offense. More than a third of his passes have gone to players such as Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and Demarcus Robinson, and he’s made them look good.
Barnwell wrote, “Purdy’s numbers often get discounted by virtue of his offensive infrastructure, which is stocked with playmakers and operated by Kyle Shanahan. Though the 49ers have still had George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey on the field all season, and Mike Evans in the lineup for most of the season, Purdy deserves more of the credit for being the guy driving the offense.”
Christian McCaffrey is always going to be in the All-Pro conversation, especially at the all-purpose spot, but Barnwell’s midseason running back ballot went to Jahmyr Gibbs and Kenneth Walker. That makes McCaffrey a tougher bet for the running back honor, even if his name remains one of the first that comes up.
At tight end, George Kittle looks like the safest 49ers bet. Barnwell put him on his first-team All-Pro list, with Trey McBride second.
Kittle’s value still goes beyond the box score because of everything he does as a blocker, and Barnwell called him the best all-around tight end in football. Brock Bowers missing a few games earlier in the season may factor into the final voting picture, but Kittle is clearly in the top tier and could add another All-Pro selection to his résumé.
Trent Williams is making the case that age means nothing if the tape keeps looking this good. At 38, he has looked like the best lineman in football this season, and Barnwell named him his pick for Protector of the Year at both the quarter-season and midseason checkpoints. That puts Williams squarely in the All-Pro mix as well.
There’s another offensive line name worth watching too: Dominick Puni. He wasn’t on Barnwell’s ballot, but he has been quietly putting together a strong third season and has become one of the best right guards in the league. With four guard spots available on the All-Pro list, he could still work his way into the conversation.
On defense, Fred Warner is making a loud case of his own. Barnwell had him second in the Defensive Player of the Year race behind Will Anderson, and Warner’s season has been loaded with impact plays.
Barnwell highlighted his five forced fumbles, which he called something “we aren’t supposed to see from off-ball linebackers.” He also noted that Warner has made tackles on 20% of running plays, the second-best rate among starting linebackers, and remains unmatched in pass coverage.
Barnwell wrote, “And then, of course, there’s no better linebacker in pass coverage in the league. Warner does a better job of taking away potential throws than any other linebacker, both by reading what quarterbacks are hoping to do and by running with potential receivers in coverage.
His play somehow has not slipped after he dislocated his ankle a year ago.”
That kind of season makes Warner a clear All-Pro candidate, and he remains the best linebacker in football.
Taken together, the 49ers have a real shot at stacking up All-Pro honors across both sides of the ball. Purdy is in the MVP race.
Williams is in the Protector of the Year race. Kyle Shanahan could be in the Coach of the Year mix.
Warner and Kittle could even be in Comeback Player of the Year territory after returning from injury. Warner is also in the Defensive Player of the Year race.
For a team already sitting at 7-1, the individual hardware could pile up fast.
In Other News...
49ers Get Deebo Boost But A Bigger Cowboys Concern Is Growing
San Franciscos offense is starting to look a little more like itself with Deebo Samuel moving closer to a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out. For a unit that has been trying to regain rhythm, getting Samuel back in the mix would be a meaningful lift, especially with the 49ers trying to keep momentum headed into a matchup that has already started to feel important.
The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Passing Game Just Got A Big Week 10 Opening
A potentially important Week 10 break is starting to tilt the 49ers way, with Dallas cornerback Joey Porter Jr. missing practice because of a foot injury and still listed as questionable for Sunday. For a San Francisco passing game already dealing with its own wide receiver injuries, any edge matters, and the possibility of facing a shorthanded secondary only adds to the intrigue around Brock Purdys return to the lineup.
Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Explained The Thumbs-Down That Added Edge To A Rout
The 49ers kept rolling with a 38-17 win over the Raiders, a result that pushed them to 7-1 and into a tie for the best record in the NFL. Brock Purdy was at the center of it again, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and the offense looked every bit like a unit that has settled into a rhythm behind a defense that has been doing its part all season.
Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]