As the calendar turns to August, a new climb is underway in Santa Clara. Up off the mat come your 2024 San Francisco 49ers. Wounds, both physical and emotional, have healed and are healing. Opening kickoff is 40 days away, a six week crawl that may only be magnified by the perpetual mediocrity of the Giants failing to distract the eyes and ears of Bay Area sports fans until the first weekend of September. Here are five thoughts on the red and gold.
Secondary depth, finally
If you listened to Papa and Lund on Monday, you’d know just how high the 49ers are on their defensive backs in 2024. Often a weakness on Kyle Shanahan’s Niners’ teams, the back end of the defense should be a strength this season. Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas populate the cornerback room, while Ji’Ayir Brown returns at safety. Talanoa Hufanga, who missed much of last season, is set to return with a clean bill of health early this season. Safety and cornerback were also an emphasis in the draft with the addition of Wake Forest’s Malik Mustapha and Florida State’s Renardo Green.
“We can be great,” Lenoir told Papa and Lund on Monday. “I think we can be one of the best secondaries to come through here.”
Super Bowl or Bust… Right?
For fans, the answer to that question is painfully obvious. Of course the NFL’s best roster is super bowl or bust. Of course a team that’s been to the final four in four of the last five seasons expects to finally get over the hump and win the sport’s biggest game. But verbiage like that has apparently gone stale among the Niners’ most accomplished veterans. Whether it’s scar tissue or a genuine blissful mindset, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk each had thoughts on the Niners’ recent accomplishments and postseason reputation.
Linebacker will take a village
One of the most profound images of Super Bowl 58 came in between plays. You know the horror story by now. Niners’ star linebacker Dre Greenlaw went down in a heap near the SF sideline. Fred Warner gripped the sides of his helmet and exclaimed in agony at the ominous sight before him. Greenlaw wasn’t just lost for the rest of that night, his torn achilles will of course sideline him for a solid portion of the 2024 campaign. Fred Warner will have to be his All-pro self, of course. But former Packer De’Vondre Campbell will have to play a big role until Greenlaw is back on the field.
Purdy unlocked
As good as Brock Purdy has been in his young career, we might be able to see an even better version of the third year quarterback than we’ve already been treated to. For the first time as a pro, Purdy enters the season with a full offseason of work and starter reps under his belt. No rookie mini camp, no third string reps clawing at the third string QB job, and no elbow surgery and subsequent rehab stands in between Purdy and leveling up in year three.
Physically, the difference is evident. Purdy looks bigger and stronger, and by all indications he hasn’t lost a step when it comes to quickness and speed. The cerebral parts of his game, often lauded by those around him and those who oppose him, continues to grow. It’s easy to be optimistic this time of year when teams report to camp, but it’s reasonable to have very high expectations for Brock Purdy.
Here’s to less drama
The horizon brings optimism in terms of tiresome contract negotiations. The 49ers 2021 draft class would be the next crop looking for an extension beyond rookie deals. The first round pick in ‘21 was, of course, Trey Lance. The Niners won’t have to worry about one of the worst draft picks in franchise history giving them anymore of a headache. There will be some eligible key players, though. Second round pick Aaron Banks has made himself into a fixture on the offensive line, and will certainly be looking to secure his wealth. As will Ambry Thomas, Lenoir, and perhaps Hufanga depending on how he recovers. These negotiations, while undeniably important, don’t carry first round cache. Next summer should be a much more relaxing one for fans and the front office.
