PFF goes chalk with their three best 49ers entering the 2025 NFL season
PFF goes chalk with their three best 49ers entering the 2025 NFL season
Despite going 6-11 and finishing in fourth place in the NFC West, followed up by losing key players like Deebo Samuel, Leonard Floyd, Charvarius Ward and De'Vondre Campbell this offseason, the San Francisco 49ers still have a very talented roster entering the 2025 season.
In fact, if San Francisco can keep most of their top guys healthy this year, there's a real chance that they make the playoffs again and could make a run once they get there.
Looking at the 49ers depth chart in late-May, it's not hard to pick out who some of the best players are, and Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema recently did this exercise for every team in the league, and for San Francisco, he identified Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and George Kittle as their top three.
Bosa, 27, is coming off his fifth Pro Bowl in six years in 2024 after playing in 14 games and recording 52 tackles (15 for a loss), 24 quarterback hits, nine sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovered and an interception.
Warner, 28, made earned All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time last year. In 17 games, he finished with 131 tackles (five for a loss), seven passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two quarterback hits, two interceptions and a sack. His consistent play got him a three-year, $63 million extension this offseason that made him the highest paid linebacker in NFL history.
Kittle, 31, earned All-Pro honors for the fifth time in his career and made the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in 2024. He caught 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games last year.
There are certainly arguments to be made for other players like Trent Williams, Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey. However, with Williams getting older, Aiyuk returning from a torn ACL and McCaffrey coming off another injury-riddled season, it makes sense why they weren't Sikkema's picks.
Strong performances from any of them in 2025, combined with a bit of a drop-off from the others could result in any of those three claiming one of the top spots next year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
Former Browns WR Elijah Moore drawing rave reviews from new Bills teammates
Former Browns WR Elijah Moore drawing rave reviews from new Bills teammates Wide receiver Elijah Moore departed the Cleveland Browns for the Buffalo Bills late into NFL free agency, but he is already seeing praise heaped upon him by his new teammates. The particular Bills teammate? Pro Bowl and former first round cornerback Tre'Davious White. Unprompted, White had this to say on the now-former Browns and New York Jets wideout looking for a fresh start on his third team: 'He's gonna be a big-time player for us. Route running is amazing, getting in and out, his breaks is amazing.' Moore finished his two-year stint with the Browns with just 1,178 yards receiving and three touchdowns, catching the football from a wide multitude of quarterbacks in that span under some lackluster offenses. Both seasons, however, were career-highs for Moore after coming over from the Jets in a trade before the 2023 NFL draft. Now playing with the first stable quarterback of his entire career, is Moore destined for a breakout season in Buffalo? Besides, Moore did flash in the brown and orange with quarterback Joe Flacco providing the most consistent quarterback play he has seen in his NFL career. It would certainly be a tough pill to swallow in Cleveland if he produces at a high level while catching passes from reigning MVP Josh Allen.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Colts ownership passes to all three of Jim Irsay's daughters, with Carlie Irsay-Gordon taking over as CEO
The Indianapolis Colts announced their new organization structure Monday following the death of former owner Jim Irsay. All three of Irsay's daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — will serve as owners with the franchise. While Irsay-Gordon, Foyt and Jackson will have ownership status with the club, Irsay-Gordon will assume the role of CEO. She will serve as the team's "principal owner," per a team statement. The team added these new roles were "longstanding plans set forth by Jim Irsay." Advertisement Jim Irsay died in May. He was 65. The Colts have been owned by the Irsay family since 1972. Jim's father, Robert, initially purchased the Baltimore Colts that year. After 12 years in Baltimore, Robert Irsay moved the team to Indianapolis. Jim assumed team ownership after Robert died in 1997. Under Jim Irsay's ownership, the Colts reached the postseason in 16 of 28 seasons. The club made it to the Super Bowl twice, winning one championship. Much of the success during Irsay's tenure can be attributed to quarterback Peyton Manning, who was taken No. 1 overall by the team in the 1998 NFL Draft. Manning spent 13 years with the Colts, leading the team to the playoffs 11 times. Following Manning's departure, Irsay drafted Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Luck led the team to the playoffs in four out of six seasons before his shocking retirement in 2019. Advertisement Since Luck's retirement, the franchise has been desperate to find its quarterback of the future. While Philip Rivers did lead the Colts to a playoff appearance in 2020, the team hasn't found its way to the postseason since. Irsay selected Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the quarterback hasn't progressed as expected and is already dealing with shoulder issues this offseason. Irsay-Gordon could be tasked with finding the Colts' quarterback of the future if Richardson struggles again in 2025. Irsay-Gordon, Foyt and Jackson have all held roles with the team since the 2012 season. With Monday's changes, Foyt will serve as the owner and executive vice president with the club. Jackson will be the owner and chief brand officer and serve as the president of the Indianapolis Colts foundation.
Washington Post
21 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Pro Bowl punter Logan Cooke signs a 4-year contract extension with the Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Pro Bowl punter Logan Cooke has signed a four-year contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cooke, a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, was entering the final year of his second deal with the team. It had been unclear how Jacksonville's new regime would handle Cooke's contract situation. Jacksonville, which drafted Cooke in the seventh round in 2018, announced the extension Monday.
