Five bold predictions for a San Fransisco 49ers team looking to repeat their Super Bowl run.
The San Fransisco 49ers had the NFL‘s strongest turnaround this past year, transforming a four-win 2018 season into a 13-win 2019 campaign, one in which they were one Patrick Mahomes comeback away from a Super Bowl ring. They were led by an elite defense that allowed the second-fewest yards and an offense that had the second-most rushing attempts, which allowed them to control the clock while holding their opponents to minimal points.
However, the offseason has certainly brought some uncertainty for the Super Bowl runners-up. San Francisco saw their top wideout, Emmanuel Sanders, leave in free agency. And second-year pass-catcher Deebo Samuel is questionable heading into Week 1 with a stress fracture in his foot, the same injury that kept fellow receiver Trent Taylor sidelined for all of 2019.
The 49ers attempted to fill this void by signing Travis Benjamin and Tavon Austin in the offseason, though they were lost to the opt-out deadline and a knee injury, respectively.
There have also been more recent concerns with linebacker Fred Warner, who led their team in tackles in 2019, being placed on the COVID-19/reserve list. The uncertainty of this season brings out the need for depth more than ever, which the 49ers lack — particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
However, fans should not lose hope, as it is important to remember that the Niners made their Super Bowl run without a lot of star power. In a year where it seems everything seems to be within the realm of possibilities, here are five bold predictions for the San Fransisco 49ers ahead of the 2020 season.