2/32 NFL Off Season Analysis: Better or Worse:The NFC West SF 49ers
The 49ers had a relatively quiet off season trying to maintain some key pieces and also establish their qb situation.
They were the 2nd best team in the NFC last season behind the Eagles. Their rival the Seahawks made some major upgrades as well as the Cowboys and those 4 teams sit at the top of the NFC. Let’s take a look overall at some of the moves as the 49ers may have taken a slight step back heading into 2023.
Offense
They made some notable moves: The most noticeable and biggest one on offense was not signing Mike McGlinchey at Right Tackle and letting Jimmy Garapolo walk and handing the reigns to Brock Purdy and Trey Lance. Still remains to be seen who will emerge at qb or will they even play a 2 qb system. Something you don’t see everyday in the NFL. The right tackle position will be given to Colton McKivitz and it will be his job to lose. Other than that they get the rest of the starters back on the offensive line. McGlinchey was one of the best offensive tackles in the run game so it remains to be seen whether the run game will be effected.
The other key move was bringing in Jon Feliciano as the swing center and guard and losing Dan Brunskill to the Titans. Brunskill was a very valuable backup but the veteran Feliciano should fill that role.
Defense
The 49ers were one of the top defenses in the league last year.
On defense, the 49ers always have an abundance of defensive lineman and this year was no different. But, they got one of the best defensive tackles in the game in Javon Hargrave.
Defensive Line
They have 3 all pro starters in Hargrave, DE Bosa and DT Armstead who missed some time last year with injury. That being said they are thinner up front with the departures of 2 defensive Ends, Omenihu and Ebukam as well as DT and DT Hassan to the Texans. Those are 3 pieces on the d line. The 4th starter will probably be Drake Jackson , a 2nd year player out of USC. The biggest issue is depth with Clellin Farrell and Kerry Hyder as the most noticeable backups with NFL experience.
LB
They still have a solid starting group with 2 all pro inside linebackers in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw but lost their 3rd LB Al Shaiar in free agency. They have to find a 3rd LB in their base defense.
Secondary
They have Gibson and Hufanga back at safety, but lost the very reliable Jimmy Ward to the 49ers. They also lost Emmanuel Moseley, but he was hurt most of the year. Charvarius Ward and Lenoir return at CB with nickel back Isaiah Oliver back at that position.
RT Mike McGlinchey (Broncos)
Reported contract: Four years, $84 million
The 49ers selected McGlinchey with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played his final season with the organization on the fifth-year option, making $10.88 million.
After missing 13 regular-season games over his first four seasons due to injuries, McGlinchey remained healthy in 2022 and had the best season of his career.
McGlinchey was known as one of the league’s better run-blockers. However, he surrendered a team-high six sacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
He is the only starter along the offensive line who is not returning, so the 49ers have a big hole to fill.
S Jimmie Ward (Texans)
Reported contract: Two years, $13 million
The 49ers re-signed veteran free safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year deal, which closed the door on Ward’s return to his old starting job.
Ward, a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, was the longest-tenured 49ers player before agreeing to terms with the Houston Texans.
Ward follows former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to Houston, where he will be counted upon to be a leader on a team implementing a new scheme. He has vast knowledge of the defense and has significant experience playing safety, nickel back and cornerback.
DE Samson Ebukam (Colts)
Reported contract: Three years, $27 million
After earning nearly $12 million in two seasons with the 49ers, Ebukam cashes in with the Indianapolis Colts. The 49ers expected big things from Ebukam, who registered 2, 3, 4.5 and 4.5 sacks in his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.
But while Ebukam started 26 of the 32 regular-season games in which he appeared, he never took that next step as a pass rusher opposite Nick Bosa. Ebukam had 4.5 and 5 sacks in his two seasons with the 49ers.
CB Emmanuel Moseley (Lions)
Reported contract: One year, $6 million
The 49ers wanted to retain Moseley at the right price. But, clearly, they determined this was not the right price for a player who has been plagued by injuries.
After appearing in all 16 games with nine starts during the 2019 season, Moseley missed 25 games over the past three seasons due to injuries. He sustained a torn ACL in the 49ers’ Week 5 game at Carolina.
For a team that has experienced so many injuries in recent seasons, they were hoping to bring him back with far less of a financial commitment.
DE Charles Omenihu (Chiefs)
Reported contract: Two years, $20 million
In November 2021, the 49ers acquired Omenihu from the Texans for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
In just 26 games under the direction of 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, Omenihu became a highly coveted player scheduled to earn $10 million a year.
Omenihu started just three games for the 49ers during his time with the organization, but he got to the point in 2022 where he was playing more than 50 percent of the snaps and registered a career-best 4.5 sacks.
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Titans)
Reported contract: Terms unknown
The 49ers saw Al-Shaair as a future starter in 2019 when he signed as an undrafted rookie. The 49ers kept him on the 53-man roster to open the season, and he rewarded the team for the faith they showed in him.
When Dre Greenlaw missed games due to injuries, Al-Shaair stepped in seamlessly, and the 49ers’ defense did not skip a beat.
However, Al-Shaair also experienced some injury issues of his own. He missed 10 games during his four seasons, including five last year due to a knee injury.
OL Daniel Brunskill (Titans)
Reported contract: Terms unknown
Like Al-Shaair, Brunskill moves to Tennessee as part of former 49ers executive Ran Carthon’s first free-agent class as general manager of the Titans.
Brunskill was a valuable contributor during his time with the 49ers. He started 42 games in four seasons — seeing action at every position along the offensive line.
Brunskill did not surrender a sack in 337 pass-blocking plays during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a good player and his depth will be missed.
Free Agent Losses(The 49ers lost much more than they signed)
DT Hassan Ridgeway (Texans): One year, $4 million
The 49ers signed Ridgeway a year ago to a one-year, $1.8 million deal. Although his season ended with a pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve, Ridgeway will double his salary when he joins Ryans with the Texans. Ridgeway was a starter at times and gave them some much needed depth
DE Samson Ebukam (Colts) Three years, $27 million
Ebukam started 26 of the 32 regular-season games in which he appeared, he never took that next step as a pass rusher opposite Nick Bosa. Ebukam had 4.5 and 5 sacks in his two seasons with the 49ers.
CB Emmanuel Moseley (Lions) One year, $6 million
After appearing in all 16 games with nine starts during the 2019 season, Moseley missed 25 games over the past three seasons due to injuries. He sustained a torn ACL in the 49ers’ Week 5 game at Carolina and missed the rest of the season.
QB Jimmy G: Signed with the Raiders. 49ers are going with Purdy, Lance and Darnold.
S Jimmie Ward (Texans). Two years, $13 million
The 49ers re-signed veteran free safety Tashaun Gipson to a one-year deal, which closed the door on Ward’s return to his old starting job. A Very solid 49ers who played numerous positions on the back end. Will be a starter in Houston with Demeco Ryans.
DE Charles Omenihu (Chiefs). Two years, $20 million
The 49ers acquired Omenihu from the Texans for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Omenihu started just three games for the 49ers during his time with the organization, but he got to the point in 2022 where he was playing more than 50 percent of the snaps and registered a career-best 4.5 sacks. This may be their biggest loss.
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Titans)
When Dre Greenlaw missed games due to injuries, Al-Shaair stepped in seamlessly, and the 49ers’ defense did not skip a beat. He was also their 3rd LB when they were in the base 4-3 so he was a valuable player for them.
OT Mike McGlinchey (Broncos) 4 years 84 million
The biggest loss of the offseason as he is a top 10 tackle in the league. A great run blocker but he did give up 6 sacks in 2022. The RT position will be one to watch.
OL Daniel Brunskill (Titans)
Like Al-Shaair, Brunskill moves to Tennessee as part of former 49ers executive Ran Carthon’s first free-agent class as general manager of the Titans.
Conclusion
The 49ers still have enough to win in a weaker NFC but lost several pieces, especially on the offensive and defensive line. Although they got a great player in Hargrave, several key contributors were lost on defense. The unstable QB situation also concerns me as they make their push to win a title.
Overall, I think they got slightly worse, but will still be a playoff team and Super Bowl Contender.
Prediction: 11-6