The Chiefs still sit at No. 1, with the Cincinnati Bengals coming in second and the Eagles now at third. The Buffalo Bills are the No. 4 ranked team. San Francisco rounds out the top five.
ESPN names defensive tackle as the 49ers' most-improved position, primarily thanks to the addition of former Eagles defensive lineman Javon Hargrave.
"The 49ers had one of the least productive defensive tackle groups in the NFL in 2022, as they generated a combined 59 pressures, fourth-fewest in the league," wrote Nick Wagoner. "Arik Armstead, who missed eight games with foot and ankle issues, had the most pressures among Niners defensive tackles with just 14."
San Francisco signed Hargrave, one of the offseason's top free agents, to a four-year, $84 million deal, bolstering a unit that the team has struggled to improve since trading away DeForest Buckner.
"Enter big-ticket free agent Javon Hargrave, who accounted for 53 pressures and nine sacks last season with a 14.1% pressure rate (the best in the NFL among tackles with at least 500 pass rushes over the past two seasons)," added Wagoner. "The Niners are counting on Hargrave to elevate their defensive line back to 2019 levels of dominance."
As for the rest of the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks are the next highest-ranked team at No. 11. The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals appear further down the list at No. 25 and No. 32, respectively.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
ESPN's ranking of 49ers' under-25 talent raises red flags
Much has been made of the San Francisco 49ers' aging roster as the team prepares for the 2026 NFL season. While the core remains loaded with proven veterans, questions continue to grow about how long that group can keep the team's Super Bowl window open. Sustained success in... -
New ranking a harsh reminder of 49ers' costly draft blunder
The San Francisco 49ers have struggled to consistently replenish their roster with young talent through the NFL Draft, forcing them to spend heavily on veteran free agents to fill the gaps created by their missteps. But one draft misfire from the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era... -
49ers preseason: NFL Network and ESPN to air all three games
The NFL Network and ESPN have announced their preseason broadcast schedules, and all three San Francisco 49ers preseason games will be available to a national audience. Fans in the Bay Area can watch the games locally on KPIX. Those outside the 49ers' home television market... -
Only three 49ers would fetch a first-round pick in trade, says ESPN analyst
The San Francisco 49ers are widely regarded as one of the NFL's most talented teams. However, questions remain about the aging core of the roster and the team's recent injury history. Despite losing several key contributors to injuries last season, the 49ers still reached the...