Free agency paving highway back to Super Bowl
Williams’ expensive return from free agency is critical
Super Bowl LVI is Feb. 6 down the road in Los Angeles, for those updating the San Francisco 49ers’ schedule.
Left tackle Trent Williams’ return merits such grand plans.
Other shrewd moves, combined with a healthier outlook after last year’s carnage, puts the 2019 NFC champions back in Lombardi Trophy range.
Maybe they can even have Tom Brady throw it to them from Marina del Rey harbor, once they prevail inside SoFi Stadium to snap a 26-year championship drought.
Simply put, a sixth Lombardi Trophy is a realistic goal for the 49ers. A lot must go their way, like any team, to achieve that.
Retaining Williams is a vital step that way, reflected by the largest contract ever for a NFL offensive lineman (six years, $138.06 million, $55.1 million guaranteed, $30,100,000 signing bonus).
“He’s a guy that puts you over the top and in that championship caliber,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said Wednesday.
Reuniting center Alex Mack, a six-time Pro Bowler, with Kyle Shanahan’s scheme added to Wednesday morning’s firework show for 49ers’ fans as free agent signings officially began.
When it comes to quarterback, angst will always be there whether the 49ers have the right one, a clutch performer who can cradle a Lombardi Trophy the way Steve Young last did for them in 1995.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s chances of staying healthy are a lot better with his blindside protected by an eight-time Pro Bowler. That said, Williams was a seventime Pro Bowler when Garoppolo crumpled to the MetLife Stadium turf in Week 2 last season, the result of a missed block by left guard Laken Tomlinson, which isn’t to pick on him rather than to note that football requires 11 men on point at the same time.
Getting Garoppolo a better backup remains a priority, either now (see: Alex Smith, Mitch Trubisky) or in the draft.
Garoppolo understands fans’ criticism when he’s hurt — and he appreciates their admiration when he feels great, baby. It’s either “Jimmy? Jeez” or “Jimmy G!”
The 49ers again have constructed a contender around him. Blowing up part of it — or future drafts — to replace Garoppolo with Deshaun Watson doesn’t seem like a highstakes gamble that this 49ers regime would make.
The 49ers’ starting 11 already may be in place: QB Garoppolo, RB Mostert, FB Juszczyk, WRs Samuel/Aiyuk, TE Kittle, LT Williams, LG Tomlinson, C Mack, RG Brunskill, RT McGlinchey.
Defensively, the 49ers could use more for their fortification to channel their 2019 dominance.
The 49ers pose the strongest threat to unseat Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are swashbuckling their way toward a repeat by retaining defensive end Shaq Barrett, wide receiver Chris Godwin, tight end Rob Gronkowski and, of course, Brady.
The Green Bay Packers, after back-to-back NFC runner-up efforts, haven’t done anything to soothe over Aaron Rodgers’ concerns or confusion. They’ve lost AllPro center Corey Linsley in free agency, and they’ve resigned Aaron Jones, who fumbled and left injured in the NFC Championship Game.
The New Orleans Saints have finally exhausted Drew Brees’ phenomenal career, and their roster is buckling under salary cap weight.
The NFC East is too busy celebrating its quarterbacks — Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Washington’s Ryan Fitzpatrick, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and New York’s Daniel Jones — when they’ve combined for a 1-2 playoff record, which is Prescott’s mark that still got him $40 million annually.
The NFC West is what the 49ers must first conquer. It remains the NFL’s most cannibalistic division — via wins, not losses like the NFC East.
But the Seattle Seahawks are in crisis mode, courtesy of Russell Wilson’s public outcry for more protection and a potential trade, which can’t be afforded on the cap until 2022.
The Los Angeles Rams need way more than just Matthew Stafford replacing Jared Goff to vault them back to the Super Bowl. Sean McVay’s coaching staff and roster is in flux. They’ve re-signed Leonard Floyd and still can lean on Aaron Donald, but the 49ers counterpunched with Wednesday’s deals for Williams and Mack. Also, the 49ers swept the series in 2019 and ’20.
No matter who the Arizona Cardinals add — J.J. Watt, A.J. Green and Rodney Hudson this year — they still haven’t made the playoffs the past five years.
The 49ers’ 2020 was a medical redshirt year.
This isn’t to rekindle last season’s “Super Bowl Revenge Tour” moniker. Injuries intervened to ruin that run, not to mention COVID-19 issues and a lateseason eviction from Santa Clara County.
This season should bring back the 49ers’ swagger.
Williams’ initial Instagram picture certainly did after midnight. “Forever faithful” headlined an image of him sitting on a boat with gold necklaces hanging down his bare, tattooed back as he peered out to sea.
“Woke up this morning feeling like Christmas,” Juszczyk said of Williams’ news.
Feels like planning for a Feb. 6 visit to SoCal is in order. Quarterback questions aside, perhaps the 49ers Faithful should just be debating whether to drive south on Highway 101 or Interstate 5. Or hope Highway 1 reopens by then.