A plethora of injuries and inconsistent production plagued the San Francisco 49ers’ 2024 season. An overtime loss in the Super Bowl turned into a six-win season as stars went down left and right. As a result, many predicted that the team would rebound with some key free-agency moves.
However, while making many moves, the team hasn’t seen any blockbuster signings go down. Instead, a lot of talent has left the team, notably Deebo Samuel, Talanoa Hufanga, and Dre Greenlaw. However, General Manager John Lynch gave the team’s fans an optimistic look into the future.
John Lynch Assures Fanbase About San Francisco 49ers’ Offseason
While the Kansas City Chiefs have walked away with three Super Bowl victories over the last five seasons, the 49ers have been right there in terms of success, with two Super Bowl and two additional NFC Championship Game appearances to show for it.
However, that success has come at a cost, with San Francisco among the highest spenders in the league over that timeframe. As a result, the team needed a change in its philosophy, especially after finding a potential franchise quarterback in Brock Purdy.
Lynch believes that philosophical change would always manifest itself as a soft reset. Speaking to The Mercury News, he explained that the plan for the offseason had been in the works for a while.
As a result, he spread some hope and optimism among the fanbase about the team’s mindset and direction. While free agency didn’t bring in a ton of game-changers, the team’s focus is instead on the 2025 NFL Draft.
“We’ve got this thing called the draft, and we’ve got a lot of picks,” John Lynch said. “And I think the thing the fans should know is we have a plan. And we’re gonna execute that plan. And we’re excited about the opportunity.”
The latest mock draft from PFSN has them adding cornerback Jahdae Barron, edge rusher Kyle Kennard, and offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius in the first three rounds of the draft, respectively. Those players should be immediate contributors to make up for and, in some cases, improve the team’s lost pieces.
Last year, the 49ers ranked the following on PFSN’s compiled metrics: Ninth in Offense+ and a mediocre 15th on OL+. Their biggest issue was defense, where they dropped to 26th on Defense+. However, Lynch believes the team’s long-term future is secure.
“The bottom line is you’re always looking at years out (from now),” he said. “And we forecast it, and we’ve got some big things coming our way. And you have to clear the requisite room to be able to do that. And you don’t want to get to a point where you have to do things to keep your roster afloat. You want to have that flexibility.”
Of course, with the extension for Purdy coming sooner rather than later, it seems like Lynch is alluding to a significant paycheck for the former Mr. Irrelevant. After a seventh-placed finish on PFSN’s QB+ metric despite a mediocre offensive line and much of his weapons injured, he’s certainly made a solid case for it.
It’s also up to Lynch to improve the team around him meaningfully. A D on PFSN’s free agency grades for San Francisco certainly isn’t ideal. But, as he is pitching, the focus for the team is the NFL Draft. Let’s see if they can nail it in Lambeau Field in April.