The San Francisco 49ers are among the teams expected to have a bounce-back season in 2025. After being decimated by injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, they’re presumed to enter training camp fully healthy. Combine that potential good health with the easiest strength of schedule in the league, and the Niners are a popular pick for resurgence.
NFL Analyst Questions 49ers’ Bounce-Back Hype Without Deebo Samuel
While their outlook is promising, not everyone believes the 49ers are primed for a big season. Nick Wright appeared on FS1’s First Things First and expressed skepticism about San Francisco’s chances of returning to elite form.
“It’s not like this is a team that had all these injuries, had all this bad luck, and barely missed out on the playoffs,” Wright said. “I just don’t see the Niners the way they were seen in years past, which was: the most talented team in the league on offense.
“So Deebo (Samuel) is a chess piece removed from the board. They’re used to getting a ton of production from Brandon Aiyuk — they paid him because of it. When he came back pre-injury, he didn’t quite look like himself.”
“I just don’t see the Niners the way they were seen in years past which was: the most talented team in the league on offense.”@getnickwright explains why he’s not buying into the 49ers: pic.twitter.com/lqzLGKYJ2B
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) July 9, 2025
Trading Deebo Samuel alleviates a financial headache for the 49ers’ front office, but it also leaves them thinner at receiver and removes a unique weapon in both the run and pass game. Brandon Aiyuk, coming off ACL surgery and frustrated with his contract situation, is expected to be the No. 1 receiver. Jauan Jennings will step up as the No. 2.
Tight end George Kittle, though slightly younger than Travis Kelce, remains one of the most versatile at his position. On the line, veteran left tackle Trent Williams returns to protect Brock Purdy’s blind side.
Vegas sportsbooks have the 49ers’ over/under win total at 10.5, depending on the outlet. They also benefit from the league’s easiest strength of schedule — their opponents posted a combined .415 winning percentage in 2024. While encouraging, that number glosses over a few challenges.
Running back Christian McCaffrey is arguably the most critical piece of the offense besides Purdy. Much of what head coach Kyle Shanahan schemes runs through the backfield. While McCaffrey remained healthy for his first season and a half with the team, he missed a significant chunk of 2024 with Achilles tendinitis and ended the season with a PCL injury. If he bounces back and puts up 1,500 yards from scrimmage, he solves a lot of problems.
Still, Samuel’s departure doesn’t just thin the depth chart — it removes the versatility that made Shanahan’s pre-snap motion and misdirection so effective. His absence won’t spell doom for the offense, but it will require a philosophical adjustment. That shift may not be as dramatic, or as concerning, as Wright suggests.
