Plethora of decisions ahead of Niners' revenge tour
Once confetti fell Sunday night on the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl celebration, it immediately became time to look to next season. So here we go: The 49ers will beat the Cincinnati Bengals 33-17 in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas next Feb. 11.
That prediction invited plenty of social media commentaries — “I like where your mind is at Cam!” … “You're not supposed to release the script!” … “Not with scared Shanahan coaching” — so let's parlay that chatter into a post-Super Bowl mailbag.
Do you see a similar mindset with the 49ers after this year's playoff loss and the 49ers team that lost to Washington in '83? (@JohnRBruning)
If this franchise uses playoff defeats to fuel ensuing Super Bowl runs, well, there's been no shortage of those under Kyle Shanahan. His 2023 team now must carry the weight of those 2020-22 revenge tours — and, well, the past 28 seasons in 49ers history since their last Lombardi Trophy triumph.
It feels like every offseason the team makes one aggressive move. What would be your prediction for 2023? (@KevinAMolina)
They already traded away their first- and second-round draft picks — part of their deals for Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey — so any big acquisition must come via free agency next month. A top-shelf player (see: offensive or defensive lineman) will push their budget, because the 49ers' energy bill already will spike in late summer with Nick Bosa's record-setting extension. Now's the time to break the bank, though.
Is Bosa getting that contract? (@cesar_jali100c)
Absolutely. If the 49ers don't reward the NFL defensive player of the year with an extension that pays more than $30 million annually, it will send a terrible signal to others, about them siphoning their financial approach. That would run contrary to the generous deals they've made since 2018 (see: Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Arik Armstead, Trent Williams, Kyle Juszczyk, Deebo Samuel). The few who have
left for greener financial pastures: DeForest Buckner, Emmanuel Sanders, Kendrick Bourne, and D.J. Jones.
Will the Niners address the black hole that's left after Buckner? (@jaycee003)
Indeed, the 49ers have struggled to find a consistent interior presence after trading Buckner to the Colts in 2020. Javon Kinlaw wasn't going to immediately replace an All-Pro, and a knee issue has kept Kinlaw out 26 of the past 36 regular-season games. Hassan Ridgeway and Kevin Givens were so-so last season, when the 49ers also relied on versatile linemen Armstead, Arden Key, Charles Omenihu and Kerry Hyder Jr. Restocking the line is the No. 1 priority.
Who are the 49ers' top free-agent targets from their own roster? (@ theogedubbs)
I'd expect the NFL's cash flow to trickle down in this top-10 order: Jimmy Garoppolo, Mike McGlinchey, Azeez Al-Shaair, Robbie Gould, Charles Omenihu, Samson Ebukam, Jimmie Ward, Jordan Willis, Jake Brendel, and Daniel Brunskill. The 49ers may try retaining most, but Garoppolo, Al-Shaair and Ward seem intent on leaving.
Will the Niners receive comp picks when Jimmy, McGlinchey and Kinlaw sign elsewhere? (@Michael21985873)
Garoppolo and McGlinchy could fetch multiyear deals that yield compensatory picks in 2024 to the 49ers, but Javon Kinlaw remains on his rookie contract. The 49ers are expected to get compensatory picks in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds this year, for the exits of D.J. Jones (Broncos), Arden Key
(Jaguars) and K'Waun Williams (Broncos), according to OverTheCap.com.
Who do you think will win the QB contest? I've got Purdy. (@colecurrey)
Actually, Dr. Keith Meister will have Purdy on his operating table Feb. 22 for elbow surgery. How Purdy's ulnar collateral ligament is repaired or replaced will dictate any “QB contest.” Trey Lance is the default QB1, for not just the offseason program but likely through training camp. Even if Purdy is able to fast-track his recovery to six months, Lance may be embedded enough to enter the season as the starter. Where it goes from there is anyone's guess, as last season's four-quarterback shuffle illustrated. Keep in mind the 49ers have a more daunting schedule in 2023, with 10 of their 17 games against playoff teams.
Will Trey get traded this offseason? (@no1fwtyler)
Only two wild scenarios make this happen: 1) The 49ers swap him for a veteran quarterback on another team, such as Minnesota's Kirk Cousins; 2) Jimmy Garoppolo makes a highly improbable return for a seventh season, which leads us to …
Is Jimmy G going to come back? (@maybe_layla415)
No. He'll enter free agency next month as perhaps the most coveted quarterback on the market, all due respect to those who side with Derek Carr. Garoppolo restructured his contract last season to make sure the 49ers could not franchise tag him, and Shanahan coldly stated last month he could not envision any scenario in which Garoppolo returns. Jimmy G-oodbye.