The national narrative around the San Francisco 49ers this offseason has been simple: stay healthy, and the championship window is still open. That sentiment reappeared this week in a new offseason report card from Bleacher Report, where the publication pointed to the return of some key players as one of the biggest reasons optimism remains high in Santa Clara.

On Monday, Bleacher Report contributor Brent Sobleski handed out grades for every NFL team, appraising each one for its offseason moves. He gave the 49ers a C+ on their offseason report card.


He didn't explain why the 49ers received only a C+, good for the second-best grade in the NFC West (Sobleski gave the Los Angeles Rams a B). But the writer did suggest that an improved injury situation will make a world of difference for the 49ers.

"The San Francisco 49ers will be better just by having Fred Warner and Nick Bosa on the field again," Sobleski wrote. "As a whole, the Niners were ravaged by injuries. Even so, the team still had plenty of work to do this offseason, particularly at wide receiver and among its pass rush."

Here's what the Bleacher Report article pointed out:

An improved wide receiver room


"San Francisco signed future Hall of Famer Mike Evans to give Kyle Shanahan a big vertical/red-zone target that he's never really had in San Francisco. De'Zhaun Stribling also joined the squad as the 49ers top draft pick. The rookie's athletic profile and willingness to do the dirty work upgrade the position group. Veteran Christian Kirk still has a little bit of juice after inking a free agent deal." - Sobleski

For years, the blueprint of a Kyle Shanahan passing game in San Francisco has relied on YAC (yards after catch) monsters. Deebo Samuel and George Kittle built their reputations on turning five-yard passes into 50-yard touchdowns. And they would do it with a lot of physicality.


What Shanahan has consistently lacked, however, is a classic, boundary-dominant, red-zone threat. The signing of future Hall of Famer Mike Evans gives him that and changes the potency of this offense.

Evans brings a standard of consistent vertical production that is one of the best in modern NFL history. For the first time in San Francisco, opposing defensive coordinators can't just crowd the box and choke the intermediate crossers; they'll have to account for a 6-foot-5 target who can win 50-50 balls down the sideline, and demand double-teams inside the 20-yard line.

But Shanahan and GM John Lynch didn't stop there. As Bleacher Report noted, the injection of youth and veteran stability behind Evans creates an incredibly balanced room. Top draft pick De'Zhaun Stribling brings the exact type of physical, "dirty work" mentality as a blocker and physical route-runner that Shanahan demands from his young wideouts. Pair Stribling's raw athletic profile with veteran Christian Kirk, who still possesses plenty of juice to manipulate coverage, and the 49ers suddenly boast one of the most versatile pass-catching groups in football.

And that's without even mentioning Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, and Jordan Watkins.

Strengthening the defensive front


"Along the defensive front, GM John Lynch traded for Osa Odighizuwa to give the unit some interior burst and disruptiveness. The team also drafted Romello Height in this year's third round to serve as a pass-rush specialist in sub-packages." - Sobleski


On the other side of the ball, the narrative of the 49ers' defense has always started and ended with the pass rush. While Bosa's return ensures a strong edge presence, championship-caliber defenses require interior disruption to prevent quarterbacks from stepping up into the pocket. The trade for Osa Odighizuwa is an underrated move that could pay massive dividends. Odighizuwa brings a quick-twitched, gap-shooting presence to the interior defensive line that the 49ers have lacked in recent seasons. By pairing Odighizuwa's inside burst with Bosa's outside pressure, San Francisco creates a pick-your-poison scenario for opposing offensive lines.

To complement that starting unit, the selection of Romello Height in the third round gives defensive coordinator Raheem Morris a dedicated speed-rusher for sub-packages. And the 49ers could still potentially add another pass rusher. Having a rotation would benefit Bosa, who is returning from his second knee injury since entering the NFL.

Still, the biggest variable for the 49ers may not be talent at all. It is availability.

Shanahan has consistently proven he can scheme around problems and manufacture offense regardless of circumstances. Yet even the league's best coaches eventually hit a limit when injuries pile up week after week. The core of this roster remains championship caliber, but the difference between another deep postseason run and another frustrating season could come down to whether San Francisco can finally avoid the injury avalanche that has derailed them the past two seasons.

"Shanahan always finds a way, but his life would be so much easier if the Niners roster could remain intact throughout the majority of a campaign," Sobleski wrote.


It's true. If the 49ers can figure out how to stay healthy, they'll be part of the discussion in late January, and perhaps, even into February.

Written By:

Marc Adams


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