San Francisco 49ers' biggest strength found in playmakers
Pro Football Focus rated the 49ers biggest strength as the playmakers.
Stacking up the San Francisco 49ers in comparison to their competitors is a tough proposition.
But following the draft and NFL free agency, that is exactly what Pro Football Focus attempted to do. In a recent article, PFF detailed that the greatest strength found on the 49ers roster. The answer they gave came as no surprise, really. San Francisco's greatest strength is the playmakers present on the roster.
Between Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel, there aren't many NFL defenses that have an answer to the playmaker riddle the Niners present. It isn't a far cry to suggest that, if not for injuries, San Francisco could have played for a Super Bowl in the 2022 season.
Take a look at the full reasoning behind PFF's selection of playmakers as the team's biggest strength:
"It’s a shame the 49ers’ quarterback room was ravaged by injuries because they may have been the most well-rounded team in 2022. Offensively, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk thrived no matter who was under center. 49ers pass-catchers led the league in missed tackles forced and ranked fifth in the regular season in yards after catch despite seeing the seventh-fewest targets. Defensively, Fred Warner, Charvarius Ward, and Talanoa Hufanga return for the highest-graded coverage unit in the NFL, one that also led the league in interceptions."
The Niners have an intriguing blend of talent and skill. If the team can keep the injury bug from biting, there is a good chance that San Francisco will again be the gold standard in the NFC.
Much of the Niners' success hinges on what happens at the quarterback position. To this point, the discussion has centered around Brock Purdy's health. That is still the reality.
But where things have changed is the assumption that the team can't win without Purdy. Trey Lance is still an option. And recent reports have suggested that Sam Darnold may be a threat to be the team's starting quarterback if Purdy's health is still a question mark.
With the number of playmakers present on the Niners' roster, the quarterback position almost feels like a plug-and-play affair. And PFF isn't wrong in assuming that the playmakers will make all the difference when the going gets tough during the NFL season.
