Where the 49ers Rank Among the NFL's Super Bowl Contenders

Big, but deserved, praise.

Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Don’t let the negativity surrounding the San Francisco 49ers’ 2026 draft fool you into thinking it was a bad offseason.

The 49ers front office entered the offseason coming off a divisional-round run despite injuries on both sides of the ball, knowing significant improvements were needed heading into 2026.

This latest ranking by The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen shows San Francisco had one of the best offseasons, ranking them second behind the Philadelphia Eagles.

“The 49ers found ways to legitimately improve without a ton of cap space to work with and some holes to fill on the roster. It helped that Mike Evans wanted to play for a contender and took a deal far below what he could have gotten," wrote Nguyen.

"The 49ers finally found a penetrating three-technique defensive tackle who’s perfect for their scheme, trading for Osa Odighizuwa. Christian Kirk is a good slot receiver who should thrive with Kyle Shanahan. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw and cornerback Nate Hobbs obviously have injury risks, but they fill needs and can be plus starters."

Jun 10, 2025; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan (left) and general manager John Lynch watch their team work out during an OTA at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Nguyen also suggested the 49ers had a good draft despite widespread backlash, as many of the picks were deemed reaches, but he believes more of their picks will ultimately see snaps on the field.

"Receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is considered a reach by some, but his potential to be a supercharged version of what Jauan Jennings did for this offense will bring some much-needed big-play ability on the perimeter," he added.

"Defensive tackle Gracen Halton and edge Romello Height can also give the 49ers some juice on pass-rush downs. There are legitimate arguments about the 49ers’ ability to properly project value in the draft based on a significant sample size, but in this year’s draft, I liked the players they drafted and believe they can contribute this year.”

Whichever way you look at it, the 49ers are in a far stronger position than they were in January when their season ended, and it’s no surprise to see them ranked so highly.

The focus is clearly on the here and now. That’s the strategy. Planning for the future may be temporarily on hold as the roster is built to compete immediately, maximizing their window and capitalizing on their current core, leaving little doubt about the organization’s intentions heading into the new season.

The 49ers may have found strong value across the board in the draft, but few of their rookies are expected to have major roles right away.