Last season saw the 49ers bounce back from a disappointing 2020 season and once again stake their claim as one of the NFC’s very best teams. They finished the year 10-7, making the playoffs and going on a run that culminated in a loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. That game appears to have marked the end of the Jimmy Garoppolo’s time as the starter in San Francisco, with 2022 ushering in the Trey Lance era.
Offseason additions and losses
There was very little in the way of big free agency moves from the 49ers this offseason. The one notable move was signing former Chief Charvarius Ward to a three-year, $40.5 million deal. Ward will step in as the team’s CB1 opposite Emmanuel Moseley from day one. Outside of that the moves were minor and focused on providing depth. They added former Packers linebacker Oren Burks on a two-year, $5 million deal, as well as the likes of Ray-Ray McCloud and Kemoko Turay.
The departures were far more noticeable. They lost two of their starting offensive lineman, with center Alex Mack retiring and left guard Laken Tomlinson departing for the Jets. They also lost right tackle Tom Compton, who played 52.2% of snaps in 2021 after Mike McGlinchey suffered a quad tear. Raheem Mostert also left to re-unite with Mike McDaniel in Miami. On defense they said goodbye to two starters in safety Jaquiski Tartt and cornerback K’Waun Williams, who ended up in Philadelphia and Denver respectively.
2022 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 2.61 | Drake Jackson – EDGE, USC |
| 3.93 | Tyrion Davis-Price – RB, LSU |
| 3.105 | Danny Gray – WR, SMU |
| 4.134 | Spencer Burford – OT, UTSA |
| 5.172 | Sam Womack – CB, Toledo |
| 6.187 | Nick Zakelj – OT, Fordham |
| 6.220 | Kalia Davis – IDL, UCF |
| 6.221 | Tariq Castro-Fields – CB, Penn State |
| 7.262 | Brock Purdy – QB, Iowa State |
The 49ers didn’t pick until the back end of the second round but they still managed to come away with some solid prospects. Jackson has the potential to be a high impact player despite his draft position, with the combination of size and explosiveness you want in an NFL edge rusher. Danny Gray in the third round was another good value move and he could see reps as a rookie. In Spencer Burford they land a player with positional versatility, something they will no doubt need given the turnover on the offensive line. The one head-scratching pick was Tyrion Davis-Price, who joins an already crowded running back room.
Offense
The biggest star of the 49ers offense is not on the field but on the sideline. Kyle Shanahan continues to be one of the game’s most exciting offensive minds and has managed to extract high level production from his 49ers teams despite turning out game managers like Jimmy Garoppolo under center. This year we get to see him work with a true dual threat in Trey Lance. The last time he had a dynamic runner at quarterback was when he helped Robert Griffin III win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. The possibilities of what this offense could become in 2022 are incredibly exciting.
Lance certainly has the supporting to help him succeed in San Francisco. Deebo Samuel is one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons, with the ability to shape the game out wide or in the backfield. He also has perhaps the most well-rounded tight end in football in George Kittle. Behind them there is Brandon Aiyuk, who has put up 1,564 yards and 10 touchdowns through his first two seasons. In the backfield they have talented second year back Elijah Mitchell who ran for 963 yards at 4.7 per carry as a rookie. As supporting casts go, this is amongst the very best.
If there is one thing that could hold this unit back it is the offensive line. Whilst they retain the best left tackle in football in Trent Williams and have a solid right tackle in Mike McGlinchey, the rest of the line is less than convincing. Daniel Brunskill was a below average starter at right guard last season and now they have lost both Laken Tomlinson and Alex Mack. Jake Brendel is projected to start at center, having played just six snaps in three years. Who will play left guard remains in doubt, but none of the names in contention are overly convincing.
Defense
The 49ers defensive success is founded on their defensive line. In Nick Bosa they have one of the game’s very best edge rushers. In his two healthy seasons he has finished sixth and fifth in the NFL in pressures. They also have an outstanding defensive coordinator in Demeco Ryans, who is a wizard with his pressure packages. Ryans really grew into the role towards the end of last season and from Week 13 the team averaged a scarcely believable 45.7% pressure rate.
In addition to a dominant front four, the 49ers also boast one of the NFL’s best linebackers. Fred Warner has earned a reputation as an outstanding coverage player, allowing just 711 yards on his 117 targets over the past two years. He has also provided two picks and seven pass breakups in that period. Warner is also quietly effective against the run and is capable of chipping in as a blitzer. This versatility gives Demeco Ryans plenty of flexibility in how he calls plays.
The one potential weakness that could keep this defense a tier below the league’s elite units is the secondary. The 49ers made a smart move in acquiring Charvarius Ward, but they still noticeably lack a true lockdown cornerback. Emmanuel Moseley is solid enough, but will struggle when matched up against top receivers. Jason Verrett is very good when he is on the field, but he has played 100+ snaps in a season just once in the past five years. At safety they have a good starter in Jimmie Ward, but precious else besides.
Prediction
How Trey Lance performs is the big question facing the 49ers in 2022, but it isn’t the only one. They have had some key losses along their offensive line that could prove difficult to replace. Their defensive front looks excellent, but will their secondary be able to hold up against top competition? The range of outcomes for San Francisco is huge in 2022, but if Lance clicks this is a playoff-calibre team.
