The Five 49ers who Need to Ascend in 2023
As great as the 49ers were in 2022, they still had a handful of players who underwhelmed or didn't get a chance. 2023 is where these players will get a chance to improve themselves and make that jump. Failing to do so will only hurt their tenure with the 49ers and possibly their NFL careers as well.
Here are the five 49ers who need to ascend in 2023.
Trey Lance
It has been quite the unfortunate start to an NFL career for Trey Lance. He was forced to sit behind an average starter in Jimmy Garoppolo, then missed the 2022 season right when it essentially began due to an ankle injury. Now, Lance is second in the pecking order behind Brock Purdy who has the core of the team behind him. Luckily for Lance, Purdy returning and being ready for training camp is up in the air as he is on the mend with a UCL tear. He now has a chance to show his skills and to prove he has taken the next step this offseason.
2023 is a make it or break it year for Lance. He needs to maximize his opportunities this season. Having a leg up on Purdy while he recovers is good and all, but he still needs to be able to show an on-the-field impact. That is where he will be judged the most. Playing well during OTAs and training camp will sustain his role, but if he cannot show to be a positive impact in a live game, then the starting spot will remain Purdy's even with him coming off an injury. Should he fail and remain the backup, his future with the 49ers becomes up in the air and he will be viewed as an over drafted player.
Javon Kinlaw
Speaking of players whose future is up in the air, Javon Kinlaw could find himself entering his last season with the 49ers. His fifth-year option is most likely not going to be picked up, so this season is really going to be a last stand for him. It really all comes down to health. Even if he is just an average player, he will end up finding a team who would court his services as a rotational player.
It is all a matter of if he can miss no more than a few games. That would be a win in and of itself if it were just a few, but even that is a considerable stretch. He hasn't given any reason to feel hopeful that he can last most of a season. I fear that if he once again proves that availability is an issue for him that he will struggle to find any team willing to sign him even on a prove it one-year deal in 2024. This season is a career defining year for Kinlaw.
Drake Jackson
It was a sluggish finish in 2022 for Drake Jackson in his rookie season. The first half of the year he would make a flash player here and there. In the second half, however, he disappeared without a trace. Kyle Shanahan cited "power" being the issue that made Jackson unplayable at the end. It just fell off as the season takes a toll on the body, which makes sense for a rookie because 12 games is what they're accustomed to if not less. The 49ers really need Jackson to ascend this upcoming season.
Nick Bosa can't be Superman all the time and the 49ers shouldn't allow that to happen. They need their defensive line to be more like "The Avengers" and have a slew of players who can dominate. Jackson is one of those players as he has the makings to be an effective pass rusher. He already has the speed rush relatively down. Now he just needs to add power and aggression to his game to allow him to win more frequently. If he cannot be effective, then the 49ers will be in trouble along with his trajectory.
Samuel Womack III
The start of the preseason for the 49ers last year was rookie cornerback Samuel Womack III. He demonstrated an ability to cover his receiver tightly, tackle in run support, and make a play on the ball. When he was dropped from the starting lineup after one start in Week 1 versus Chicago, it was surprising to see. Then again, Shanahan has little patience for rookie mistakes. But now the 49ers will need Womack this season.
Jimmie Ward is unlikely to return to the 49ers, especially as a nickel corner. That moves Womack back into a starting role. I'd imagine Deommodore Lenoir will still get consideration there, but considering how well he played on the outside and the question mark with Emmanuel Moseley, nickel is Womack's to lose. How he can win it is basically do what he did last year and just clean up whatever mistakes he showcased against the Bears. It will not surprise me if he ends up being a pivotal starter on the defense.
Deebo Samuel
No player was more marginalized last season for the 49ers than Deebo Samuel. He went from being a magical player who could carry an offense, to having his greatest strength just be as a threat. The threat of Samuel is scarier than the actual playmaker. Now, he is still sweet with the ball in his hands, but the times he did get it last year were underwhelming. He just became neutralized with the odds of him generating a big play being low.
Not to mention he isn't a great receiver on account of his average route running, so he needs the handoffs and quick passes to excel. Samuel has to bounce back and be more than just a player who is a threat in theory. Shanahan has to help him too and put him in a better position to succeed as well. Defenses were not falling for the plays where Samuel got the bay, so back to the drawing board for Shanahan. They need Samuel to get somewhat close to his 2021 level.
