ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked the best and worst offseasons from each team in the NFL and placed them into tiers. Teams like the Indianapolis Colts were lauded for hitting on Daniel Jones and Cam Bynum in free agency, hiring Lou Anarumo, and drafting Tyler Warren for the best offseason.
The next tier was “Way ahead of expectations.” You don’t have to scroll long to find the San Francisco 49ers, who were listed as the fourth-best team based on their offseason:
Highlights: Hiring DC Robert Saleh; drafting first-round DL Mykel Williams, second-round DT Alfred Collins and fifth-round S Marques Sigle; trading for Edge Bryce Huff, signing QB Mac Jones (two years, $8.4 million)
Disappointments: Extending QB Brock Purdy (five years, $265 million), signing WR Demarcus Robinson (two years, $8 million)
Well, the conversation is going to be out there, right? Jones hasn’t been as good as Purdy, but in five starts filling in, Jones has gone 4-1 and posted a 55.2 QBR. Purdy is better, posting a 68.8 mark over 2022-24, but is the difference between the two worth more than $48 million per season? Would Kyle Shanahan and the Niners’ front office make that same decision again? Maybe, but $48 million would pay the salaries of a bunch of starters for a team that has had so many other talented players get hurt this season.
The defense has managed to keep its head above water despite losing its two best players in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Saleh has done an excellent job coaxing solid or better performances out of the rookies on that side of the ball, with Collins helping the Niners win against the Rams by punching the ball out of L.A. running back Kyren Williams‘s hands at the goal line, saving a touchdown. Huff joined the ranks of the walking wounded by suffering a hamstring injury last week, but the Eagles castoff leads the team with 24 pressures and 10 quick pressures, an excellent return for a player the 49ers are paying only $7.7 million in 2025.
The 49ers’ rookie class gained some much-needed experience during the first quarter and a half of the season. You saw flashes from everyone, from Mykel Williams to Connor Colby. Frank Gore told us Alfred Collins is primed to be a big-time player. We have yet to see Jordan Watkins in the regular season, but training camp and preseason reports suggested Watkins can give the Niners some much-needed playmaking down the field.
I wouldn’t give up on Robinson just yet. He had a rough drop last week and has been largely invisible since he returned from a three-game suspension. But Robinson always seemed like he’d be better suited for Brock Purdy’s style of play, not Mac Jones.
You’re playing an unfair hindsight game when you compare quarterback salaries. Purdy made multiple playoff runs and was in overtime in the Super Bowl against Patrick Mahomes.
Jones has undoubtedly had his moments, but the offense is different with him under center. Despite Mac’s ability to keep this team competitive when he’s on the field, there hasn’t been a “Why didn’t the 49ers just pay this guy instead?” moment. They’ve scored 16, 26, 19, and 20 points — not exactly lighting the scoreboard up.
Could you imagine the faces Robert Saleh made during the offseason when people (read: Eagles fans) spoke about how Bryce Huff was useless? Huff is in the top 10 in win percentage among all edge rushers. He’s been everything the Niners could have possibly hoped for.
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