Six 49ers land on ESPN's projected top 100 players for 2025

ESPN has released its projection of the top 100 NFL players for 2025, and six members of the San Francisco 49ers earned a spot on the list. A panel of ESPN analysts and insiders—including Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Dan Graziano, Jeff Legwold, Jeremy Fowler, Liz Loza, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Seth Walder, and Stephen Holder—ranked players based on their projected performance for the upcoming season.

All but one of the 49ers within the list, which highlights expected production and overall impact, slipped from their 2024 rankings. Projections were compiled by fantasy analyst Mike Clay, with team insights provided by ESPN 49ers reporter Nick Wagoner.

QB Brock Purdy

2025 Rank: 96
2024 Rank: 30
2025 projected stats: 4,578 passing yards, 25 TDs, 13 INTs (264 rushing yards, 5 TDs)

Wagoner's take: "Purdy took a bit of a step back in 2024 as injuries piled up around him. And yet, he still set a record for the most games with a 130.0-plus passer rating in a player's first three seasons (13). He then enjoyed an epic offseason in which he signed a $265 million contract. Paid and healthy, Purdy has said he's not fazed by the expectations that come with his new deal."

RB Christian McCaffrey

2025 Rank: 48
2024 Rank: 9
2025 projected stats: 261 carries, 1,189 yards, 9 TDs

Wagoner's take: "McCaffrey is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he played just four games and averaged 4.0 yards per carry. That average would have been his lowest in a full season as a Niner by more than half a yard. But McCaffrey seems clear of the bilateral Achilles tendinitis and knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. The 49ers built a plan to keep McCaffrey healthy through camp, and if that can continue, he should be a focal point of the offense."

OT Trent Williams

2025 Rank: 43
2024 Rank: 14

Wagoner's take: "Williams started just 10 games in 2024 after an ankle issue landed him on injured reserve to end the season. That followed a tumultuous preseason, when he held out of the majority of training camp, awaiting an adjustment to his contract. Williams returned to this year's training camp healthy and leaner."

DE Nick Bosa

2025 Rank: 34
2024 Rank: 16
2025 projected stats: 63 tackles, 11 sacks, 2 FF, 1 PD

Wagoner's take: "By his own admission, Bosa's production in 2024 (nine sacks and 52 tackles in 14 games) was a bit disappointing. As the leader of a defensive line group full of youngsters, he has spent more time this offseason at the team facility than he has in the past. That, combined with a return to health after battling an oblique injury, has yielded a strong camp. Bosa needs just 4.5 sacks to move into second in franchise history."

TE George Kittle

2025 Rank: 27
2024 Rank: 22
2025 projected stats: 82 receptions, 1,040 yards, 7 TDs

Wagoner's take: "Among tight ends, only Travis Kelce has more than Kittle's 7,380 receiving yards through eight NFL seasons. Yet, there's reason to believe Kittle is still playing some of his best football. His 11.6 yards per target, 73.7 yards per game, 2.9 yards per route run and 14.9 yards per reception ranked first in the league in 2024."

LB Fred Warner

2025 Rank: 13
2024 Rank: 28
2025 projected stats: 139 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 3 FF, 7 PD

Wagoner's take: "After posting 131 tackles in 2024, Warner has had 115-plus tackles in each of his first seven NFL seasons. He's one of just two players -- along with Roquan Smith -- to do that since at least 2000. Warner reached that mark despite playing most of last season with a fractured bone in his ankle. He's back to full strength and reunited with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who should allow Warner to sprinkle some new things into his game (like more blitz opportunities)."