The 49ers’ 2019 campaign won’t rest on any one player. Their depth is vastly improved from last season, but now the onus is on some of their new additions and returners to take a step forward.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan are entering Year 3 of their rebuild, and the expectations are higher than they’ve been since their arrival in 2017.
If San Francisco is going to contend for a playoff spot, which they could conceivably do if they manage to stay healthy, these are the seven players who need to come through with big years:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
This is a no-brainer for the 49ers and practically every other NFL team. Quarterback is arguably the most important position in sports. San Francisco experienced the weight of that when Garoppolo went down with a torn ACL in Week 3 last season. Their offense sputtered too often with their franchise quarterback out, and the team will only go as far as he takes them in 2019.
DE Nick Bosa
Rushing the passer and generating turnovers are the only things that matter for the 49ers’ defense this year after spending the offseason revamping their defensive line. Selecting Bosa No. 2 overall in the draft was a signal that the 49ers expect him to make an immediate impact. San Francisco’s porous pass defense would get an immediate boost from a Defensive Rookie of the Year performance from their top pick.
DE Dee Ford
Trading a 2020 second-round pick to Kansas City for Ford was the first step in overhauling the 49ers’ edge rush. He was paramount to the Chiefs’ run to the AFC championship game, and is expected to continue his playmaking ways off the edge in San Francisco’s 4-3 scheme. If he can make quarterbacks uncomfortable and help generate some turnovers, the 49ers could put together a playoff caliber defense without many changes in the secondary.
C Weston Richburg
The 49ers’ biggest issues on the offensive line came inside. They were regularly dominated by the game’s best interior defensive linemen, and that pressure up the middle dramatically impacts the flow of the offense. Richburg had a good career with the Giants before signing with the 49ers ahead of last season. He dealt with a leg injury for most of last year which likely contributed to his struggles. A fully healthy Richburg gives San Francisco a formidable offensive front that should allow Shanahan’s offense to click.
Whoever wins the starting safety jobs
There are no two safeties to circle as the most important because the most important ones will be the two starters. It would be a small victory just to get 16 games worth of starts out of the same two players all year. Whoever winds up earning those spots has to produce though. An improved pass rush won’t be enough. The 49ers need production from the back end of their secondary and a lot of that will fall on the two safeties.
WR Deebo Samuel
The 49ers offense will undoubtedly get a boost from Garoppolo’s return, but their group of skill position players needs a go-to target on the perimeter and in the red zone. Samuel has all the tools to be that player in Shanahan’s offense. He can work out of all three receiver spots, creates separation, and scores touchdowns in the red zone. Samuel’s unlikely to see an overwhelming majority of targets in an offense full of weapons, but a strong rookie year from him ensures the 49ers can reach something close to their maximum potential right away.
