National media ranks the San Francisco 49ers highly in key positional categories
ESPN’s Mike Clay ranked all 32 NFL teams by position, here is how the 49ers shaped up.
The San Francisco 49ers may be a pretty good team.
Well, at least on paper.
ESPN's Mike Clay ranked all 32 NFL teams by position and then provided a composite score. Since he covers the NFL nationally, he presents a unique perspective where the 49ers aren't getting a hometown boost. Let's take a look at how the Niners shaped up in his rankings.
QUARTERBACK: 24th out of 32 teams, 28 percent of the overall grade.
With the 49ers unsure about who the starter will be come Week 1, this grade is to be expected. The team has options: Sam Darnold, Trey Lance, and Brock Purdy if he is healthy. But there is a saying that goes, if a team doesn't know who its quarterback is, the team doesn't have a quarterback. The Niners may be in that exact boat until some clarity is provided.
RUNNING BACK: 1st, three percent of the overall grade.
This ranking doesn't need much explanation. The 49ers have Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason. What team in the NFL is competing with that running back room?
WIDE RECEIVER: 11th, 11 percent of the overall grade.
Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, and Danny Gray all are special in their own unique way. This is about where I would expect the 49ers' wide receiver room to rank. There isn't one special guy, but the sum is better than the individual parts.
TIGHT END: 3rd, four percent of the overall grade.
George Kittle looked like his usual self at tight end in 2022, if he can keep up that level of play, the 49ers will be fine here.
OFFENSIVE LINE: 30th, 12 percent of the overall grade.
When the entire offensive line only has one player with more than a year of experience, you can expect to be the third-worst unit on paper in the NFL. This group has a lot to prove in 2023.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: 2nd, eight percent of the overall grade.
Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead will form one of the most feared defensive duos in the NFL. The only thing holding them back would be an injury. If healthy, the 49ers will be a scary unit up front.
DEFENSIVE END: 17th, nine percent of the overall grade.
Nick Bosa is great at what he does. But he can't go at it alone. in 2023, the 49ers are relying on Drake Jackson to step up. We will see if that is even a possibility.
LINEBACKERS: 1st, 6.5 percent of the overall grade.
Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are good against the pass and the run. That is a rarity in the NFL. The 49ers are going to use that to their advantage in 2023.
CORNERBACKS: 24th, 10.5 percent of the overall grade.
Charvarius Ward is good but not elite. Deommodore Lenoir and Isaiah Oliver are the replacements for the good corners that went out the door, and it is no guarantee they can hold up. A low ranking, for sure. But it should be expected.
SAFETIES: 9th, eight percent of the overall grade.
Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga are elite. They should be feared in the NFL. If they turn in the same campaign in 2023 that they did in 2022, the 49ers are in fine hands.
OVERALL: 16th
A middle-of-the-pack roster for a team that believes its championship window is now is quite shocking. But when you take a closer look at the moves the organization made, it is banking on players over-performing their contracts while stars living up to the hype. We will see if San Francisco can finally put it all together.
