We're in the early days of training camp, and for many teams in the NFL, there remain certain unanswered questions. The San Francisco 49ers are no different. While the team remains an early favorite for a playoff spot, many wonder just how good this team will be following the departures of several key offensive players.
Losing WR Deboo Samuel, RB Jordan Mason and a few others will hinder an offense that had questions last year. The defense though, while it infused a lot of young talent, have to prove that they can rebound after losing some solid players like CB Charvarius Ward. Will this defensive secondary help or hinder the team?
These are just a few of the questions that the team faces in 2025, and here are the three most pressing heading into the season.
1. Can Brock Purdy Produce Without Pro Bowlers Around Him?
The team will likely be without WR Brandon Aiyuk for some time, while also having to find a way to survive without WR Deebo Samuel. That's a lot of pro talent not to have around you. Christian McCaffrey could end up missing time as well, resulting in a major piece of the offense being missed. Brock Purdy has proven he can sling the ball when he has elite talent around him, but when that's not the case, can he still produce? The team didn't exactly go out and re-fortify the offense with big names. What they have is likely all they'll have in 2025. Will Purdy be able to make plays with a bunch of unproven and untested players?
2. Will the 49ers' Run Defense Be Improved?
There are concerns about the secondary with how much turnover there has been, and the lack of sacks in 2024 is worth a worry. Yet, the biggest issue facing the 49ers' defense in 2025 is their ability to stop the run. They gave up about 4.4 yards per carry and were in the top half of the league in total yards allowed. It's not the most pressing issue compared to other teams, but they drafted three defensive linemen and a linebacker for a reason. They clearly think this is a big issue for the squad. Will these new talents produce? Only time will tell.
3. Can the Offensive Line Find Any Way to Improve Upon Their 2024 Outing?
The offensive line isn't a point of contention in many online spaces, but there should be more concern. Trent Williams, the future Hall of Famer, missed seven games last year, and while he played well when healthy, there's every reason to think that keeping him on the field may be harder to achieve in his advanced career. Jake Brendel is 33 and didn't wow people last year. Injuries to just one or two players, not to mention production decline due to age, are very possible and very likely at some point in the near future. The offensive line was good last year, but all you have to do is look at a team like the Cleveland Browns to know that one bad move or so can doom an entire offensive line and its potential.