ESPN gives favorable off-season rating to 49ers for roster continuity originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers retained most of their NFC Championship-winning roster from last season and are currently one of the favorites to return to the Super Bowl next February.
San Francisco didn’t cause much buzz in the off-season, but ESPN’s Seth Walder was pleased with how the 49ers handled the offseason, giving San Francisco a “B” grade for its changes over the past four months.
Walder was particularly intrigued by San Francisco’s offseason moves at the wide receiver position. He was in favor of the team’s decision not to trade star Brandon Aiyuk amid ongoing contract negotiationsalthough he questioned the 49ers’ selection of Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall with pick No. 31 in the first round.
“While a good prospect, this was probably the biggest non-QB reach in the first round based on expectations of where players would be drafted,” Walder wrote of the Pearsall pick.
As for the 26-year-old Aiyuk, Walder believes general manager John Lynch should prioritize Arizona State’s youngest product in the wide receiver room over 28-year-old Deebo Samuel.
Walder also highlighted San Francisco’s defensive line as a key transition area this offseason. The analyst figured the 49ers would trade for former Texans defensive end Maliek Collinswhich should help replace the holes left by forwards Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw in the middle.
Walder called eight-year veteran Collins “a longtime underrated pass rushing threat who ranked 12th in defensive tackle pass rush win rate (13 percent) in 2023 and accumulated 5.0 sacks.”
Collins posted arguably the best season of his career in 2023, recording Houston records for quarterback hits (18) and total tackles (41). His production will be particularly important for a 49ers defensive line that lacks the same depth as years past.
Ultimately, it will probably be difficult for San Francisco to complain about the ‘B’ grade given its already sophisticated roster. But another Super Bowl appearance — if not a Vince Lombardi Trophy this time — could certainly get the 49ers an ‘A’ in retrospect.
