At the top of Brandt's ranking are the San Francisco 49ers. Kyle Shanahan's squad was in the Super Bowl just over a year ago, but injuries devastated the roster, and the depth chart was transformed by Week 2, resulting in just six wins. Then you have the impact of the pandemic. Local county restrictions forced the team to Arizona to finish out its last five games.
"It follows, then, that fully healthy campaigns from Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Dee Ford, all of whom missed serious time last season, would make this team a bona fide contender, even in this relatively strong division," wrote Brandt.
The analyst has concerns surrounding the 49ers' quarterback situation, which has consumed much of the offseason chatter. Brandt feels the team could still move on from Jimmy Garoppolo before the start of the season. San Francisco traded for the quarterback in 2017 and signed him to a then-record contract after five starts and five wins.
Hopes were high for Garoppolo heading into the 2018 season, but an ACL injury limited him to just three games. The quarterback missed 10 games this past season due to ankle injuries. His unavailability has to be concerning.
"It will be interesting to see if Kyle Shanahan sticks with Jimmy Garoppolo, who is returning from his own injury-hampered season, or pursue someone he thinks can run his offense more effectively," added Brandt. "Personally, I don't think Garoppolo is all-world -- he does limit what San Francisco can do, to a degree. But he's still an above-average starter. Frankly, when the Niners' run game is operating at full capacity, it can make any QB look better."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Report: Nick Bosa likely to make his 49ers return against the Rams
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, listed as questionable for Thursday night's primetime matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, is likely to play, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, the team will assess his readiness during pre-game warmups to ensure he can... -
Pelissero: 49ers' Brock Purdy likely to pursue top-market contract
As the San Francisco 49ers' 2024 season winds down, all eyes are shifting toward what could be the offseason's biggest storyline: Brock Purdy's contract extension. The topic has already generated significant buzz, with many experts predicting that Purdy will reset the... -
49ers announce roster moves ahead of first Week 14 practice
The San Francisco 49ers announced they have promoted running back Patrick Taylor Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster. The team placed defensive lineman Kevin Givens on injured reserve to make room on the roster. Givens suffered a pectoral injury on Sunday against... -
Brock Purdy update: Kyle Shanahan says 49ers QB has been 'great all week'
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggled during last Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Difficult weather conditions and his recent recovery from a shoulder injury likely contributed to his performance. This week, Purdy has been a full participant in practice and is...