6 Teams under the most pressure to succeed in 2021 NFL Draft
By Tadhg Flynn
2. San Francisco 49ers (No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft)
Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers roster are only two seasons removed from an appearance at Super Bowl LIV — a fact that seems very hard to believe. A lot has since transpired and it makes evaluating the team difficult.
They are full of talented individuals and clearly have the system to lead to success. They have one of the best young coaches in the league and should realistically be competing for titles in this current roster’s window of opportunity. Therein lies the pressure: This team should be good.
The saying goes “success breeds success”. But for the 49ers, success has only bred desire in the fan base. There have been accommodating factors for their poor performances last year, losing time from essentially every member of their starting offensive unit at various points to injury, alongside all of the pandemic-related trouble. However, a 4-12 record the season after a Super Bowl appearance is irredeemable to some, especially in the competitive NFC West.
These factors combined led the 49ers to make a big push and gamble in the 2021 NFL Draft by trading up to the No. 3 pick. They clearly believe a top-class quarterback can make them outright contenders. General manager John Lynch and Shanahan must be extremely confident in their selections as whether or not they can deliver success will be of paramount importance.