TAKING STOCK: 2022 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

BY ADAM GREENE

Since 2019, the San Francisco 49ers have dominated the Los Angeles Rams in the regular season, winning six consecutive games. Unfortunately for the 49ers, their final meeting of the 2021-22 season was in the NFC Championship and San Fran had its campaign ended with a 20-17 Rams victory that all but wrapped up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s tenure with the team.

The Niners, under head coach Kyle Shanahan, have been a problem for plenty of teams, just not in the NFC West. Outside of their consistent dismantling of the Rams, they’re routinely bested by the Seattle Seahawks and this past season were swept by both the Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, the only NFC West wins San Fran recorded in 2021 were against the eventual Super Bowl Champions.

It’s a weird league.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

2021-22 Record: 10-7, second place NFC West

Playoffs: Lost 20-17 to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship

NOW WHAT?

It’s the Trey Lance show in San Francisco from now on. As of this writing, Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the team and they’ve supposedly been offered two second rounders for him in a trade by some unnamed team. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t take that deal in a heartbeat for a guy they’re looking to move in what has suddenly become a very weak QB market for trades.

Regardless of what happens with Jimmy G., the team gave up too much for Lance and will roll with him in 2022. They remain mostly loaded on both sides of the ball with some of the best playmakers, and one of the best head coaches, in the league in Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan has decided not to replace departed offensive coordinate Mike McDaniel and instead has just taken on the role himself.

FREE AGENCY

The Niners saw no major defections in free agency, primarily losing back ups and role players with the exception of interior defensive lineman D.J. Jones. They upgraded at cornerback, adding Charvarius Ward from the Kansas City Chiefs on a three year contract.

The Niners brought in Hassan Ridgeway to replace Jones and added a new starting safety with George Odum, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.

They retained the services of back up running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who is just another playmaking cog in the Shanahan offensive machine.

DRAFT

For the next two seasons, the Niners will not enjoy a first round pick (barring a trade) which makes the decision not to jump on two seconds for Garoppolo even more dumbfounding (if it’s even true). This year, they don’t pick until the second round at No. 61. They don’t have a lot of needs, but this would be a good spot to grab an offensive lineman like Chris Paul out of Tulsa. With the No. 93 pick in the third, they should look at a defensive lineman like Perrion Winfrey from Oklahoma. At 105, also in the third, a cornerback like Mykeal Wright out of Oregon looks like a solid selection to me.

NFC WEST

As weird as the NFC West was last season, it’ll be even stranger in 2022. Garoppolo was the Ram killer and he’s probably gone. Russell Wilson owned the 49ers and he’s now with the Denver Broncos. Only the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals will bring pretty much the same teams back and, as such, will probably finish Nos. 1 and 2 again. Last season, third place still landed San Francisco in the playoffs and eventually the NFC Championship. With Lance as a first year starter, I don’t see a return this season. But 2023… maybe.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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