2) One of the 49ers’ biggest questions entering the 2024 season is whether they can finally get over the hump to win the Super Bowl. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad has lost in the Super Bowl or NFC Championship Game in four of the last five seasons. General manager John Lynch and Shanahan have assembled a loaded roster on each side of the ball for a half-decade now. With other teams ascending in the NFC — like the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers — I’ll be watching to see how the team handles a Super Bowl-or-bust vibe in camp.
3) Since entering the league as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Brock Purdy leads the NFL in QB win percentage (.778), touchdown-to-interception ratio (48-14) and passer rating (108.1) among quarterbacks with a minimum of 20 starts, per NFL Research. The Pro Bowler heads into training camp fully healthy as the starter, after spending much of last offseason recovering from a UCL injury. As he enters his third season, Purdy recently said he believes his play has “gotten better” with a full offseason workout program. Team brass will be looking to the confident QB to take another step. If he does, he’ll likely cash in with a huge contract extension a year from now.
4) Christian McCaffrey has arguably had one of the best offseasons for a running back in recent memory. The two-time All-Pro signed a two-year, $38 million extension to become the NFL’s highest-paid running back and will also appear on the cover of Madden NFL 25 when it’s released in August. Fresh off winning the Offensive Player of the Year award in his first full season as a Niner, McCaffrey showcased that he’s the engine that keeps San Francisco’s potent offense going. In 2023, McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards (1,459), yards from scrimmage (2,023) and touchdowns (21). His consistency and production have rightfully earned him much praise from his peers. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on his usage, with Shanahan wanting to protect McCaffrey from wear and tear throughout the season.
5) The 49ers enter 2024 with a new defensive coordinator for the second straight season. Nick Sorensen takes over the defense after the club parted ways with Steve Wilks in February. In 2023, the 49ers’ defense allowed the third-fewest points per game with 17.5; however, the unit struggled to stay disciplined, losing 443 yards on defensive penalties, third-most in the league. After parting with several defensive linemen this offseason (Arik Armstead, Chase Young, Javon Kinlaw and Clelin Ferrell), San Francisco will once again turn to Nick Bosa, who led the team with 10.5 sacks in 2023, to anchor the unit. The 49ers did sign edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who had 10.5 sacks of his own for Buffalo last season. The Bosa-Floyd tandem could be a huge difference-maker for Sorensen’s unit.