The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2026 season with the profile of a contender, yet the confidence that once surrounded the franchise has begun to erode. Age, injuries, and a thinning roster have raised questions about whether the team can continue to withstand the grind of a long NFL season.
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That skepticism surfaced again on Thursday’s episode of “The Herd,” where Colin Cowherd outlined why he believes the 49ers may be approaching a breaking point. He argued that the team’s margin for error has narrowed as the roster ages.
“I could see the Niners completely falling apart,” Cowherd said. “If Christian McCaffrey gets injured, if the schedule is brutal after that injury. Remember, Kyle Shanahan is a great coach, but he has had four losing seasons in San Francisco.”
McCaffrey remains the centerpiece of the offense and one of the league’s most productive players, finishing the 2025 season with a PFSN RB Impact score of 82.4, ranking fifth among running backs. Cowherd said that level of reliance is precisely what makes the 49ers vulnerable, especially with a roster that no longer features the depth it once had.
He also pointed to the shifting landscape within the NFC West. Both the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks have rebuilt through strong drafting, while San Francisco has struggled to replenish its roster with young talent.
“The other thing I worry about [with] them [is] the Rams and the Seahawks have drafted consistently much better over the last four or five years,” Cowherd said. “The Niners have missed on a lot of draft picks.”
Cowherd added that San Francisco’s 5-1 record in one-score games last season is another sign of potential regression, noting that close-game success rarely carries over from year to year.
“They were also 5-1 in one-score games. That never transcends year-to-year,” he said. “So, this is the one team I want to see what the schedule looks like.”
The 49ers’ most recent draft class did little to ease his concerns. Cowherd described the team’s approach as confusing, citing repeated reaches and a lack of long-term value.
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“And I also think, and this has been a discussion point around the draft, they once again had a weird draft with a lot of reaches,” he said. “Because they have missed on so many draft picks, they don’t have the depth, which is a real problem with an old, brittle, expensive roster.”
San Francisco still boasts elite talent across the roster, but Cowherd’s warning reflects a broader national conversation. The 49ers remain contenders, yet their foundation appears more fragile, and their path forward may depend heavily on their ability to stay healthy.
