ESPN’s future power rankings projected how teams would perform from 2027 through 2029.
The goal was to rate each team’s quarterback situation, remaining roster excluding the quarterback, front office, and coaching staff. The scale was as follows:
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50 and below: F (disastrous)
After averaging the results from the panelists, each of the four categories was weighted to create the overall score: quarterback (20%), roster (30%), front office (25%) and coaching (25%). The result is a comprehensive ranking based on how well each team is positioned for the future. Our experts then picked out reasons for optimism, reasons to worry, crucial stats/nuggets to know and bold predictions for all 32 franchises over that three-year span.
No team had a grade above 90. The Seahawks (88.7) and Eagles (88.1) led the way. Rounding out the top five were the Lions(86.2), Broncos(85.6), and Rams(85.3). Those were the only teams to receive a score above 85.
The 49ers checked in at 14th overall, with an 82.4 score overall.
The overall roster excluding quarterback ranked 16th.
They were 10th at quarterback with a score of 87.
The highest mark was the coaching at 93.5, ranking second.
Last and least was the front office with a score of 74, ranking 23rd.
Benjamin Solak provided reason for optimism:
Reason for hope: Do you trust coach Kyle Shanahan? I do. The 49ers are also refreshingly young and ascending on defense. So long as Shanahan can continue printing quality offenses — despite shaky offensive line play and a carousel of injured playmakers — the 49ers will remain a tough out year over year.
If the 49ers hit on either Jordan James or Kaelon Black at running back, it would be difficult to be pessimistic about the offense. Brock Purdy finished fourth in EPA per dropback last season while playing large chunks of the season without his two top targets– George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall. Mac Jones was 12th in EPA per dropback with Kendrick Bourne as his leading receiver.
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Both quarterbacks finished in the top 10 in several categories with Jauan Jennings as the primary threat. The offense will be prolific as long as Shanahan is at the helm.
Louis Riddick suggests age is a concern:
Reason for concern: Age and longevity. That’s what concerns me with this team, particularly on offense. Left tackle Trent Williams is 38, fullback Kyle Juszczyk is 35 and wide receiver Mike Evans is 32. Tight end George Kittle is 32 and coming off an Achilles tear. On top of that, San Francisco deals with significant injuries seemingly every season, relying on the coaching staff to develop and utilize unheralded players and keep this team in the hunt.
By 2029, the 49ers will look drastically different than they do come Week 1. Nick Bosa’s contract is up after the 2028 season. He’ll be 32. That’ll also be the final year of Fred Warner’s contract, when he’ll be 33. The core we know today could be a thing of the past by then.
While it may seem troubling now, not all roster resets are bad. And again, Shanahan will be running the show.
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Aaron Schatz, the creator of DVOA, has a nugget to know:
Nugget to know: Including the postseason, the 2025 Seahawks finished with the highest DVOA of any team since the 2007 Patriots. The top-12 teams by DVOA since 2010 finished with an average of 10.9 wins the following season (prorated for a 17-game season). However, these numbers are dragged down by two injury-riddled 49ers teams (2020 and 2024). Remove those teams, and the average is 11.9 wins.
Injuries matter. Riveting.
Finally, Seth Walder has a bold prediction:
Bold prediction for 2027-29: Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa will record at least 9.0 sacks — doubling his career high — and earn at least second-team All-Pro honors in one of these seasons. Odighizuwa was a sharp acquisition by the 49ers this offseason and showed more pass-rushing chops in Dallas than his sacks would indicate. He was in the 76th percentile of pass rush win rate among defensive tackles last season
If the 49ers are getting an All-Pro season from Odighizuwa, they’ll have a top-10 defense. That’s my bold prediction. Odighizuwa will benefit from Bosa’s gravity and Raheem Morris’s aggressive scheme on passing downs.
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