The San Francisco 49ers’ offseason is underway and while the team overcame several injuries during their 2025 NFL season, there are major weaknesses on the squad. In a competitive NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, the Niners need to improve this offseason.
While Nick Bosa and Fred Warner returning will be a boost to the team, former 49ers QB Steve Young shared that there’s a major concern that he saw on the San Francisco team and that’s the offensive line. Young believes bolstering that unit will allow the Niners to get the most out of Brock Purdy.
“Well, every quarterback needs an offensive line, and they’ve got to be Top 10,” Young Said during a Jan. 22 appearance on KNBR. “With Trent [Williams] in the game, are they Top 10? I’d say it comes and goes. I thought they had some great games this year, but we need to get back to the 2019 offensive line, where we’re the best in the league [or] Top 3.”
Moreover, the Niners need to improve their weapons around Purdy. Christian McCaffrey is one of the few players that the signal-caller leaned on this past season. McCaffrey had 311 carries for 1,202 yards and scored 17 touchdowns in 17 games this season, per StatMuse.
As a result, Young doesn’t want the 49ers to lean heavily on McCaffrey next season.
“We don’t need speed as much as other squads because we have a lot of tactics,” Young added. “But it can’t be the Christian McCaffrey show. We know that. That’s asking too much of Christian, way too much of Christian. I think it affects Christian’s running game. I don’t think we get the full measure of Christian as a runner when he has to do six other things.”
49ers Could Lose Major Target This Offseason
Jauan Jennings was one of the top targets for Purdy last season. Jennings had 55 catches for 643 yards and scored nine touchdowns in 15 games for the 49ers this season, per StatMuse. With the situation regarding Brandon Aiyuk and the departure of Deebo Samuel last offseason, Jennings took advantage of his increased role with San Francisco.
Nonetheless, Jennings can test free agency in mid-March and leave the Bay Area. Ahead of free agency opening up in a few weeks after the Super Bowl, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco shared the latest regarding Jennings’ future with the 49ers.
“[The 49ers’] top free agent is Jauan Jennings, but there’s no guarantee that Jauan Jennings will be back on the team after the sides could not come to a contract resolution on a long‑term extension before the season,” Maiocco said on his YouTube channel on Jan. 18.
“You know, the numbers that I heard that Jauan Jennings and his representation were asking for—I don’t fault the 49ers, and I can see why there wasn’t a long‑term extension signed.
“So now that he is in line to hit the open market in mid‑March, the team can have an idea of what other teams value him, and then the 49ers can play off of that. Now that didn’t work out so well with Dre Greenlaw… But Jennings is definitely somebody the 49ers would like to have back.”
49ers GM John Lynch Talks Jauan Jennings
Moreover, 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke with reporters on Jan. 21 and shared his brief thoughts on the future of Jennings.
“He plays the game the right way,” Lynch said. “We would love to have him back. We’ll work to accomplish that and see how it goes.”
49ers Get Strong Offseason Message From Steve Young