ESPN’s future power rankings put the 49ers in a pretty interesting spot: good enough to land 14th overall, but with enough warning signs baked in to keep the long view from feeling comfortable.
San Francisco scored 82.4 in the projection that looks ahead from 2027 through 2029. The 49ers came in 16th in roster quality when quarterback was removed from the equation, 10th at quarterback with an 87 score, second in coaching at 93.5, and 23rd in front office at 74.
At the top of the league, nobody cracked 90. The Seahawks led at 88.7, followed by the Eagles at 88.1. The Lions, Broncos, and Rams rounded out the top five, and those were the only teams above 85.
Benjamin Solak made the case for why San Francisco still has plenty to like. “Reason for hope: Do you trust coach Kyle Shanahan?
I do. The 49ers are also refreshingly young and ascending on defense.
So long as Shanahan can continue printing quality offenses -- despite shaky offensive line play and a carousel of injured playmakers -- the 49ers will remain a tough out year over year.”
He also pointed to the offense’s upside if the team gets a hit from the run game. “If the 49ers hit on either Jordan James or Kaelon Black at running back, it would be difficult to be pessimistic about the offense.
Brock Purdy finished fourth in EPA per dropback last season while playing large chunks of the season without his two top targets-- George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall. Mac Jones was 12th in EPA per dropback with Kendrick Bourne as his leading receiver.”
Solak added that both quarterbacks were top-10 in several categories with Jauan Jennings as the primary threat, then wrapped it with the simplest reason the 49ers still scare people: “The offense will be prolific as long as Shanahan is at the helm.”
Louis Riddick’s warning was all about age and durability. “Reason for concern: Age and longevity.
That’s what concerns me with this team, particularly on offense. Left tackle Trent Williams is 38, fullback Kyle Juszczyk is 35 and wide receiver Mike Evans is 32.
Tight end George Kittle is 32 and coming off an Achilles tear. On top of that, San Francisco deals with significant injuries seemingly every season, relying on the coaching staff to develop and utilize unheralded players and keep this team in the hunt.”
He went further, noting how different the roster could look by 2029. Nick Bosa’s contract is up after the 2028 season, when he’ll be 32.
Fred Warner’s deal also ends that year, and he’ll be 33. Riddick said the core fans know now could be gone by then.
Aaron Schatz supplied the statistical nugget. He noted that including the postseason, the 2025 Seahawks posted the highest DVOA of any team since the 2007 Patriots.
He also said the top-12 teams by DVOA since 2010 averaged 10.9 wins the next season, prorated to a 17-game schedule. But he pointed out that the numbers are skewed by two injury-hit 49ers teams, in 2020 and 2024.
Take those out, and the average jumps to 11.9 wins.
“Injuries matter. Riveting.”
Seth Walder’s bold prediction was next in the original ranking, but the source did not include the prediction itself.
In Other News...
49ers Roster Battle Took A Turn During This Preseason Blowout
The 49ers turned a preseason blowout into a long look at the bottom of the roster, and the game quickly became more about auditions than the score. Brock Purdy played briefly before giving way, San Francisco was up 20-3 by halftime and stretched the margin to 41-9 in the second half, opening the door for a cluster of rookies and fringe players to get extended snaps in a live setting.
Jacob Cowing, DeZhaun Stribling, Kaelon Black, Carver Willis, Austen Pleasants and Jalen Stroman all saw meaningful action, with the results mixed as the staff sorted through a crowded roster battle. Adrian Martinez handled the second half and left a little bit of everything on the tape, including a pick-six, but also a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown as the 49ers kept the scoreboard moving while the evaluation window stayed wide open. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Pileup Is Raising New Concerns Before Week 1
The 49ers left their preseason game against the Chargers with more than just the usual August bruises. Guard Austen Pleasants was ruled out with a knee injury, and rookie cornerback Renardo Green also left the contest and was questionable to return before ultimately not coming back. For a team trying to get through camp healthy and ready for Week 1, those are the kinds of exits that can linger well beyond one exhibition game.
Kyle Shanahans update on the defensive front added another layer to the concern, even if it came with some cautious optimism. He said Nick Bosa is making progress, while Mykel Williams is still trending toward missing the season opener. With the regular season approaching, the 49ers are once again navigating the uncomfortable mix of waiting, monitoring, and hoping the injury report does not keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Facing Uncomfortable Roster Calls As Two Camp Battles Intensify
The 49ers are moving deeper into preseason evaluation mode, and a couple of roster questions are starting to feel less like camp chatter and more like decisions the front office may have to live with. Christian McCaffrey remains part of the bigger picture, but the more immediate pressure is on players such as Kirk and Colby, whose place on the roster now depends on how the team weighs performance, health, and fit as August unfolds.
Kirks case has become especially tricky because the injury interruptions have stacked up alongside a dip in production, which puts him in the middle of a real cut conversation rather than a routine depth chart debate. Colby, meanwhile, is fighting a different kind of battle, one centered on the starting guard job and the sort of interior competition Kyle Shanahan and Chris Foerster tend to use as a true test of who can hold up when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]