49ers' path to NFC West title: 2 key factors for 2025 comeback

Many believe the San Francisco 49ers have an excellent chance to go from worst to first in the NFC West in 2025, after finishing last in the division a season ago. Analysts point to the NFL's weakest schedule as an advantage, but one writer argues that two other factors will be even more critical to a potential bounce-back campaign.

CBS Sports' Jared Dubin analyzed the NFC West landscape and believes the division could be one of the most competitive in the league in 2025. The 49ers went 1-5 against NFC West opponents last year, struggling through an injury-riddled season.

Dubin assessed what each of the four teams in the division must do to claim the NFC West crown. For the 49ers, he identified two pivotal factors: getting their offensive stars healthy and ensuring their offseason roster overhaul yields a vastly improved defense.

"The Niners were absolutely demolished by injury issues last season," Dubin wrote. "Christian McCaffrey basically never got started. Deebo Samuel never got fully healthy. Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL. Ricky Pearsall got shot and had to miss extended time. George Kittle missed some games. Trent Williams was out down the stretch. It was a lot to deal with, and the offense looked nothing like the one the team expected to put on the field throughout the season."

Dubin notes that while McCaffrey and Williams are aging, they should enter the 2025 season in good health. McCaffrey appeared in just four games last season, landing on injured reserve twice (Achilles tendinitis, PCL injury), while Williams missed the final seven games with an ankle injury.

Additionally, the 49ers parted ways with Deebo Samuel this offseason, and Aiyuk is expected to begin the year on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which would sideline him for at least the first four games.

However, Dubin adds that Ricky Pearsall should be ready to go, and with George Kittle and Jauan Jennings still reliable targets, quarterback Brock Purdy will have weapons to work with.

"We know that there are few better coaches at scheming things up than Kyle Shanahan," Dubin continued, "and Brock Purdy proved last year that he can find some degree of success even when the environment around him is not as perfect as it was through his first two seasons. If they can keep the stars on the field, the Niners should get back to being a top five-ish offense."

On defense, the 49ers will look very different. Key contributors such as Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd are gone. The team used six of its 11 draft picks—including their first five selections—to rebuild the defense.

Rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Nick Martin, Upton Stout, and CJ West are all expected to play significant roles in 2025.

"The defense is where they need to make a more significant shift, but luckily, there are reinforcements in town," Dubin added. "Robert Saleh is back to run the unit after spending a few years as head coach of the Jets. New York's offense unsurprisingly stunk during his time at the helm, but the defenses were consistently very good. He knows how to get the best out of his players."