Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

49ers' biggest challenge in 2025—and why they shouldn't be overlooked

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 11:29 AM ET

The San Francisco 49ers are using last season's disappointing 6-11 finish as motivation heading into the 2025 NFL season. The franchise is determined to prove that 2024 was an anomaly rather than the start of a decline.

This offseason brought its share of challenges, with head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch making several tough roster decisions. The result was the loss of multiple key veterans, including Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, and Talanoa Hufanga, all of whom departed in free agency.

To fill the void, the 49ers will rely on their younger players—including their latest draft class of 11 rookies—to step up early and help offset those departures.

Wide receiver depth named biggest challenge

NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha recently examined each NFL team's biggest challenge heading into the 2025 season. For the 49ers, it's the uncertainty at wide receiver.

Not only did San Francisco trade Samuel to the Washington Commanders, but star receiver Brandon Aiyuk is working his way back from ACL and MCL injuries. He is expected to begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, forcing him to miss at least the first four games.

Second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall started training camp on the PUP list, but was activated over the weekend. He and Jauan Jennings are slated to be the Week 1 starters with Samuel gone and Aiyuk recovering.

"Add in Jauan Jennings (who is looking for a new contract) and Demarcus Robinson (who could receive a suspension for a DUI conviction), and there isn't a player in that 49ers receiver room without a question hanging over him," Chadiha wrote. "It's not the ideal way to head into a season after giving quarterback Brock Purdy a $265 million extension in May."

Why the 49ers shouldn't be counted out

While the offseason losses dominated headlines, the 49ers' additions were far quieter. However, the team believes it has enough talent to compete in 2025 thanks to its strong core, which still includes Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa.

Bleacher Report's Alex Kay argues that the quieter approach could be exactly what San Francisco needed—and why the team shouldn't be overlooked this year.

"The San Francisco 49ers haven't been overlooked often in the Kyle Shanahan era," Kay wrote, "but expectations are lower than usual right now following a quiet offseason that came on the heels of a disappointing campaign.

"Although a slew of big-name players exited in the spring, general manager John Lynch revealed the organization intentionally wanted to 'throttle back' on spending this year and instead focus on developing the litany of draft picks it has made in recent seasons."

The 49ers have added 19 players through the NFL Draft over the last two years, and are optimistic they can develop into difference-makers, helping to offset this year's veteran exodus.

"These players may not be known entities yet, but with Shanahan at the wheel and quarterback Brock Purdy locked into a long-term deal, it's only a matter of time before they start breaking out as superstars."

If those young players develop quickly, the 49ers could find themselves right back in playoff contention.