Why Whitner says the 49ers’ roster needs an ‘overhaul’ in 2025 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Could the 49ers undergo major changes After the 2024 NFL season?
After San Francisco’s 35-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills on “Sunday Night Football”, NBC Sports Bay Area program Donte Whitner explained on the latest episode of “Hitner’s Hot Take” what the 49ers should consider doing in their next season.
“Going into next season, there is no guarantee that this 49ers team will return to its championship aspirations and winning ways,” Whitner said. “This roster is going to need an overhaul focusing on top-tier talent on this defensive line and quality depth at all positions.”
It’s hard to evaluate the 49ers considering how dismal their season has been. San Francisco has literally been plagued with problems one could not imagine or have foreseen.
The 49ers have been hurt like no other team in the NFL, and the latest injury report reflects that. San Francisco also has faced an unimaginable tragedydating back to before the regular season began, when first-round pick and rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest in an attempted armed robbery.
All that said, San Francisco simply hasn’t produced at the caliber expected. Whitner then cited previous 49ers teams that the current one should try to emulate.
“Think about how these 49ers teams were coached; It was all defense,” recalled Whitner, a former 49ers safety. “It was about getting to the quarterback with a four-man rush, but they had elite defensive tackles in Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. They had guys like David Ford who could win one-on-one matchups. They had a young and promising family. Fred Warner. you had Richard Sherman in high school.
“When you look at the 49ers’ defensive roster right now, they have Nick Bosa“You’ve got Fred Warner and some freshmen in the secondary who are starting to make a name for themselves.”
Whitner believes San Francisco needs to take a page from its old book and rebuild a strong defensive line and, while we’re at it, a strong defense. The 49ers currently allow the sixth-most points per game at 24.6, one season shy of allowing a third-best 17.5.
The 49ers season is probably “over.” However, San Francisco can take advantage next time by determining who should stay and who should go, as well as what the team’s future identity should be.
“I can finally say it. The 49ers season is over,” Whitner said. “And the Super Bowl hangover is real. Although the 49ers and (coachKyle Shanahan) have had difficult seasons in the past, most recently in 2020 (6-10), the difference between 2020 and now is: in 2020 they simply got injured; They had top-notch talent in key positions. “This 49ers roster has no depth, especially on the defensive side of the ball.”
Whitner is confident San Francisco doesn’t have what it takes to be great this year. All the 49ers alum can do is hope the team reorganizes and regroups in its pursuit of a sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy during the 2025 season.
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