If you read my previous piece on the 49ers which was the pre-draft team preview of San Francisco headed into the 2025 season, you could see that their concerns were more-so due to lackluster defensive play as opposed to the offense needing work. Although the offense was not as explosive as it was in the past for the 49ers under Shanahan, it did its job for the most part. The 49ers headed into next season have resigned starting QB Brock Purdy and are banking on him to lead an explosive 49ers offensive attack. The 49ers’ key offensive metrics/statistics from the 2024 season can be found below.
San Francisco 49ers’ 2024 Key Offensive Statistics/Metrics
14th in points per game
4th in yards per game
4th in overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus
The 49ers in the Kyle Shanahan era where the team has come within striking distance of winning it all on multiple occasions have been known to be elite offensively. Although the 49ers in the 2024 season were not quite as explosive offensively as they were in years past where they came close to winning it all with Shanahan as the head coach, they were still in the same ballpark offensively as they were in previous seasons. In the 2023 season where the 49ers led by Shanahan narrowly lost in the Super Bowl, San Francisco ranked in the top three in all of the above listed metrics. In the 2022 season where the 49ers with Shanahan made the conference championship game, the team ranked in the top six in all the above listed metrics. In the 2021 season where the 49ers with Shanahan made the conference title game, San Francisco’s ranking in the above three metrics was very similar to what it was in the 2024 season. In the 2021 season, the 49ers ranked 13th in points per game scored, while ranking 7th in yards per game, and grading as the 3rd best offense in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. In the 2019 season, where San Franciso narrowly lost in the Super Bowl, the 49ers ranked in the top five of all the three major above listed metrics. Needless to say, the 49ers this past season were in the same realm offensively as they have been in the past with Kyle Shanahan, but perhaps just on the lower end of that realm. Being on the lower end of that realm can be attributed to injuries, apathy, and the defense putting the offense in undesirable spots. Heading into next season, the team will almost certainly stay healthier offensively, returning to contention will likely remotivate the team, and the defense will likely be much better as well.
From an offensive coaching standpoint, Kyle Shanahan is arguably as smart of an offensive mind as there is in the NFL today. In the past six seasons, where the 49ers led by head coach Kyle Shanahan have found themselves be one of the last four teams standing on four separate occasions, Kyle Shanahan has been the head coach and the offensive coordinator for every year except one. Headed into next season, the 49ers for the second time in this era have appointed Shanahan with an offensive coordinator to assist him. The 49ers have promoted offensive assistant Klay Kubiak to the offensive coordinator role. Regardless of how strong Kubiak is, the 49ers because of the presence of Shanahan will be one of the smartest coached offensive teams in the NFL next season. But the coaching the 49ers get on offense will only be half of the picture and the personnel the team fields next season will also loom large. I have conducted an evaluation of the 49ers’ offensive personnel for the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 season below. I have included the offense grade that each player was assigned by Pro Football Focus over the course of the 2024 season. In addition to that I have included my own subjective grade of each player that indicates how strong of a player I feel they are in totality outside of just 2024. Beginning below with the offensive line of the team for the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 campaign.
2024 49ers’ Starting Offensive Line
LT – Trent Williams – (6/87) offense grade in 2024 over 649 snaps, A to A+
LG – Aaron Banks – (36/83) offense grade in 2024 over 775 snaps, B-
C – Jake Brendel – (20/43) offense grade in 2024 over 1072 snaps, B
RG – Dominick Puni – (8/83) offense grade in 2024 over 1078 snaps, A- so far as ’24 3rd rd
RT – Colton McKivitz – (36/87) offense grade in 2024 over 1062 snaps, C+ to B-
2024 49ers’ Offensive Line Reserves
G – Nick Zakelj – (80/135) offense grade in 2024 over 162 snaps, C
G – Spencer Burford – (60/83) offense grade in 2024 over 113 snaps, C
G – Ben Bartch – (23/135) offense grade in 2024 over 65 snaps, C+
C – Matt Hennesey – (30/43) offense grade in 2024 over 16 snaps, B+
T – Jaylon Moore – (25/87) offense grade in 2024 over 271 snaps, B
T – Charlie Heck – (135/141) offense grade in 2024 over 117 snaps, C-
T – Austen Pleasants – (78/87) offense grade in 2024 over 67 snaps, D
T – Sebastian Gutierrez – 3 career snaps, UDFA 2022
2024 San Francisco 49ers Key Offensive Line Statistics/Metrics
13th in pass blocking efficiency
11th in sacks allowed
12th in pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
2nd in run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from the above the 49ers actually had one of the better offensive lines in the league this past season. They ranked above average in all four of the major metrics and were graded as the 2nd best run blocking team in the NFL this past season. When compared to previous seasons in the Shanahan era starting from 2019 which was the team’s first Super Bowl appearance under Shanahan, the 49ers’ offensive line play during the 2024 season was about as good as it was in the past with Shanahan. If you add up all four of those metrics into one, with the lower the score being the better, the 49ers’ tally in each year reads as the following. 2024 -38, 2023 – 55, 2022 – 26, 2021 – 26, 2020 – 70, 2019 – 56. As you can see during this past season the 49ers were about as good on the offensive line as they have been in years past in the Shanahan era. Any slight drop off in production can certainly be attributed to injuries, in particular future hall of fame left tackle Trent Williams missing a large portion of the year. Headed into next season with Williams likely staying healthier, the offensive line can expect to improve even more so. Headed into next season there have been slight changes to the 49ers’ offensive line. In particular the departure of starting guard Aaron Banks and the departure of backup tackle Jaylon Moore. Banks was a solid starter for the team this past season while Moore was the team’s premier reserve offensive lineman, who was likely the best reserve offensive lineman in the NFL as well. The 49ers’ projected 2025 offensive line is listed below.
2025 projected 49ers’ starting offensive line
LT – Trent Williams – A to A+
LG – Ben Bartch – C+ to B-
C – Jake Brendel – B
RG – Dominick Puni – A-
RT – Colton Mckivitz – C+ to B-
2025 projected 49ers’ reserve offensive linemen
T – Andre Dillard – C to C+
G – Spencer Burford – C to C-
C/G – Matt Hennessey – B+ to A-
G – Nick Zaklej – C
T – Austen Pleasants – D-
T – Isaac Alarcon – 0 career snaps, UDFA 2020
G – Connor Colby – 2025 7th rounder
C – Drake Nugent – UDFA 2024
G – Drew Moss – UDFA 2025
G – Zack Johnson – 4 career snaps, UDFA 2020
T – Sebastian Gutierrez – UDFA 2022, 3 career snaps
As you can see from the above the only notable change headed into next season on the 49ers’ offensive line is Ben Bartch replacing Aaron Banks in the starting lineup. Bartch has shown he can be very effective, just as effective as Banks, but in a reserve role. It will be interesting to see if Bartch can now produce at a high level in a starting role. Because of the concern at one of the starting guard spots due to Banks leaving and due to the inexperience of Bartch, reserve players for the 49ers will have a chance to vie for a starting spot. Backup interior offensive lineman Matt Hennessey who was drafted pretty highly in the third round has shown a very high ceiling thus far in the league. He struggled as a rookie in 2020 and only appeared in an insignificant portion of snaps during the 2024 season. But in between those two seasons, Hennessey played center one season in a starting role and played guard in the other season in a reserve role. In the season spent as a starter at center he graded (9/41) in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus among qualified centers in almost 1000 snaps. In the season spent as a reserve at guard he graded (7/87) in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus among qualified guards in a smaller sample of just 157 snaps. Hennessey being drafted so high while playing so well in limited time on the field could certainly vie for a starting role with the 49ers next season and at worst will be a high end back up for the team. The other notable departure from the 49ers’ offensive line in 2024 headed into 2025 is backup tackle Jaylon Moore. Moore as stated previously was perhaps the premier reserve offensive lineman in the NFL and he finally left the team to pursue a starting position elsewhere. Moore served as the insurance policy for Trent Williams going down with injury which he did last season leading to Moore stepping in. Although Williams is durable and likely won’t miss substantial action for two seasons in a row, the 49ers needed to find another backup tackle who could play the Jaylon Moore role behind Williams and have pursued that option already this offseason. The 49ers have signed former first round pick tackle Andre Dillard, who although he has been a bust to many, he was still a former first round pick for a reason and still has produced at a respectable rate in the NFL. The improvement that the 49ers can expect to see on the offensive line next season also stems from 2024 rookie right guard Dominick Puni improving. Puni, who was a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had a remarkable rookie season grading (8/83) among qualified guards in terms of an overall offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Although it would be hard to improve upon that, the vast majority of the time players are not in peak form as a rookie and Puni certainly has room to go upwards as a player as a result. The 49ers on the offensive line were better in a 6-11 2024 season than they were in the two seasons they made the Super Bowl with Kyle Shanahan. Given Trent Williams likely staying healthier, the potential emergence of Matt Hennessey, along with Dominick Puni potentially improving as well, the 49ers certainly have what it takes to improve on the offensive line next season. I have conducted a similar evaluation of the 49ers’ skill position players in 2024 and headed into next season as well which can be found below.
2024 San Francisco 49ers’ Skill Position Players
Wide Receivers
WR – Jauan Jennings – (13/110) offense grade in 2024 over 689 snaps, B
WR – Deebo Samuel – (51/110) offense grade in 2024 over 682 snaps, B+
WR – Ricky Pearsall – (74/110) offense grade in 2024 over 455 snaps, C so far as ’24 1st rd
WR – Brandon Aiyuk – (32/110) offense grade in 2024 over 357 snaps, B+ to A-
WR – Chris Conley – (95/110) offense grade in 2024 over 239 snaps, C
WR – Ronnie Bell – (110/110) offense grade in 2024 over 113 snaps, C-
WR – Jacob Cowing – (86/110) offense grade in 2024 over 106 snaps, C so far as ’24 4th rd
WR – Trent Taylor – (107/110) offense grade in 2024 over 14 snaps, C to C-
Tight Ends
TE – George Kittle – (1/45) offense grade in 2024 over 808 snaps, A+
TE – Eric Saubert – (45/45) offense grade in 2024 over 377 snaps, D+ to C-
TE – Eric Tonges – 0 career rec, UDFA 2022
TE – Brayden Willis – 0 career rec, 7th round 2023
Running Backs
HB – Christian McCaffrey – (28/58) offense grade in 2024 over 167 snaps, A-
HB – Jordan Mason – (26/57) offense grade in 2024 over 378 snaps, B+ to A-
HB – Isaac Guerendo – (41/57) offense grade in 2024 over 227 snaps, C so far as ’24 4th rd
HB – Patrick Taylor – (51/57) offense grade in 2024 over 172 snaps, C to C+
HB – Ke’Shawn Vaughn – only 3 snaps in 2024, C-
In the Kyle Shanahan era, the 49ers are renown for having arguably the league’s best skill position groupings on a year in year out basis. This past season the 49ers had an abundance of talent as usual in terms of skill position players but struggled with injuries. Star wide out Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season ending injury playing in less than half the team’s games. While 2024 first round pick wide receiver Ricky Pearsall missed the start of the season due to injury. Future hall of fame running back Christian McCaffrey missed the majority of the season due to injury and his primary backup out of the backfield in Jordan Mason also missed several games as well. The 49ers headed into next season will almost certainly remain healthier at the skill positions compared to their health levels during the 2024 season.
Headed into next season a few key pieces have departed from the team but the 49ers still will field one of the premier skill position groupings in the NFL next season. Tight end George Kittle despite getting older is still perhaps the premier tight end in the NFL and was graded as the best overall tight end in the league last season as he has done so three other times as well. Christian McCaffrey when healthy is in the discussion for being the best overall running back in the NFL. In terms of wide outs, Deebo Samuel has since departed the team this offseason but San Francisco’s wide receiver unit is still very formidable without him. Jauan Jennings, although he was not noteworthy in his first three NFL seasons, grading below average every year, really broke out last season and had a remarkable year filling in at wide receiver for an injury riddled 49ers team at the position. It remains to be seen if Jennings can maintain that level of play, but if he can then he is a pro bowl caliber wide out for San Francisco. Brandon Aiyuk who was a 2020 first round pick, has lived up to the billing thus far in the NFL. Aiyuk has graded in the above average to well above average range as a wide out every season thus far in the league including being ranked as high as #2 in that department on one occasion. 2024 first round pick Ricky Pearsall missed the start of last season due to an unfortunate off-the-field injury he suffered. Once thrusted into action during the 2024 season, Pearsall did have his struggles but still was respectable during his rookie campaign. Headed into next season as such a high draft pick who still was solid at times as a rookie, he will be in line to have a breakout season.
Outside of the departure of Deebo Samuel from the team, another key skill position player from a season ago has also found a new home. Second string running back Jordan Mason who was perhaps the premier #2 back in the NFL who played very well in place of the injured McCaffrey last season has departed the team this offseason. Third string running back Isaac Guerendo who played well when both McCaffrey and Mason were out, is in line to presume the #2 role on the running back depth chart. Guerendo had a strong rookie season as a 4th rounder in 2024 averaging 5 yards an attempt but graded below average among qualified running backs. He can certainly be an above average if not better complementary running back to McCaffrey next season. The 49ers’ projected skill position grouping headed into the 2025 season can be found below.
2025 projected 49ers’ skill position grouping
Wide Receivers
WR – Brandon Aiyuk – B+ to A-
WR – Jauan Jennings – B to B+
WR – Ricky Pearsall, C so far as 2024 first rounder
WR – DeMarcus Robinson – C
WR – Jacob Cowing – C so far as 2024 fourth rounder
WR – Jordan Watkins – 2025 4th rounder
WR – Russell Gage – B-
WR – Terique Owens – UDFA 2024, 0 career snaps
WR- Junior Bergen – 2025 7th rounder
WR – Isaiah Hodgins – C+ to B-
WR – Isaiah Neyor – UDFA 2025
WR – Malik Knowles – UDFA 2023, 0 career rec
Running Backs
HB – Christian McCaffrey – A-
HB – Isaac Guerendo – C+ so far as 2024 4th rounder
HB – Jordan James – 2025 5th rounder
HB – Patrick Taylor – C to C+
Tight Ends
TE – George Kittle – A+
TE – Luke Farrell – C to C+
TE – Ross Dwelley – C
TE – Brayden Willis – 0 career rec as 2023 7th rounder
Fullbacks
FB – Kyle Juszczyk – A to A-
Outside of the three primary wide outs in Jennings, Aiyuk, and Pearsall the 49ers will be reliant upon several players to provide them depth at wide receiver. Players such as Russell Gage and Isaiah Hodgins who have both shown a high ceiling in the NFL. The 49ers lacked any capable tight ends on the roster this past 2024 season outside of superstar George Kittle but have added two capable players this offseason to complement Kittle at the position. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is perhaps the premier fullback in the NFL and plays an important role in the 49ers’ offense primarily from a blocking standpoint.
In totality on the offensive side of the ball the 49ers during this failed 6-11 season were still around as good offensively as they have been in years past when they consistently contended for Super Bowls with Kyle Shanahan. They were perhaps not quite as explosive in 2024 due to injuries, apathy, and the defense putting them in bad spots. Next year all three of those issues will likely be alleviated to a large extent and the 49ers could certainly return to being the same caliber of offense that they were earlier in the Kyle Shanahan era where they consistently contended to win it all. For the second time in this era the 49ers have appointed Kyle Shanahan an offensive coordinator and it will be interesting to see how that plays out. In addition to resigning starting quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers made a key transaction this offseason in bringing on former first round pick QB Mac Jones. Purdy already has had multiple injuries in less than three seasons as the 49ers starter and does not strike me as one of the more durable QBs in the league. As of now Mac Jones projects to be one of the premier backup QBs in the league, and his presence could loom large next season for San Francisco as well. There is no reason that the 49ers cannot return to being the elite offensive team next season under Kyle Shanahan as they have been in years past with him as the head coach.
