Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is still over a month away but once the new campaign kicks off, there are a few 49ers players that will see a more prominent place in the spotlight.
Each season, there are NFL players who make a name for themselves and enter the conversation of national sports media due to breakout performances. The 49ers have several players who could be candidates to become household names, with these five having the greatest potential.
5. WR Jacob Cowing
The second-year receiver has worked with quarterback Brock Purdy during the offseason, which led to the wideout standing out during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. Used primarily as a returner in 2024, Cowing only recorded four receptions on six targets for 80 yards as a rookie.
The Arizona product is looking to be much more involved in the 49ers’ offense going forward, utilizing his 4.38 40-yard dash speed. Cowing will have a chance to see much more time on the field with the offense with Brandon Aiyuk working his way back from and ACL injury and Demarcus Robinson potentially facing up to a three-game suspension.
4. CB Renardo Green
Another second-year player that could end up making a sizable impact on the game is Green, who appeared in 18 games as a rookie— seven as a starter. The Florida State product’s involvement on San Francisco’s defense grew when Charvarius Ward was away from the game, and now that the latter is a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Green is set to become the starter opposite Deommodore Lenoir.
In 2024, Green racked up 61 tackles —41 solo, 13 pass breakups and one interception. These statistic will rise with more time on the field as a starter, and while also being under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
3. RB Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo arguably is the fastest ball carrier in the running backs room with a blistering 4.33 40-yard dash, but he has yet to hit his full NFL potential. After sitting behind both Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, who was traded to the Minnesota Vikings during the offseason, Guerendo will have his chance to shine in 2025.
McCaffrey still will see the lion’s share of the carries, but Guerendo likely will get his plays as not only a ball carrier but also as a receiver. In his final college season at Louisville, the fourth-round draft pick pulled in 22 receptions for 234 yards and coach Kyle Shanahan could take advantage of the running back’s skillset.
2. WR Ricky Pearsall
The former first-round draft pick had a challenging rookie season, dealing with not only a hamstring injury during the offseason program and training camp, but a horrific gunshot injury just before the start of the 2024 regular season. The wideout is set to start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list but has the potential to become the game changer that the 49ers brass believed he would be when they scouted him prior to the 2024 NFL Draft.
With all of the adversity that Pearsall faced, the Florida product still appeared in 11 games, four as a starter, logging receptions on 31 of his 46 targets for 400 yards and three touchdowns. If the Arizona native can get healthy to participate in the majority of training camp, he could step up as one of the top targets for Purdy, who could be throwing to a depleted receivers room come Week 1.
1. DL Bryce Huff
The former Philadelphia Eagle had a rough go in 2024 dealing with injuries as well as a new defensive scheme. Now reunited with Saleh, who was his head coach while both were with the New York Jets, Huff has the potential to see a lot of production playing opposite of Nick Bosa who often draws double teams.
Huff had a breakout 10-sack season while starting every game in 2023 for the Jets, then only appeared in 12 games — six as a starter for the Eagles, registering 2.5 sacks. The Memphis product has a chance to put together a bounce-back season if he can take advantage of his opportunities in the 49ers’ wide-9 system and learning from defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
Veterans are scheduled to report to Santa Clara on July 22 with San Francisco’s first on-field practice on the 23rd.
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