The San Francisco 49ers' Best Decision of the Offseason

The 49ers made some highly questionable decisions this offseason.

They got rid of nine starting players even though they have more than $45 million in cap space. Then they attempted to replace most of those starters with rookies and cheap free agents. Which means they got worse on paper.

But at least the 49ers prioritized their run defense in the draft. That was their best decision of the offseason, according to Pro Football Focus.

"San Francisco’s biggest defensive flaw in 2024 was its porous run defense," writes PFF's Dalton Wasserman. "The team's 28th-ranked PFF run-defense grade marked its worst placement in that category since 2016. The 49ers responded by reuniting with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and acquiring multiple run stuffers in the draft.

"Edge defender Mykel Williams earned an excellent 86.6 PFF run-defense grade across his three seasons at Georgia. Alfred Collins and CJ West both ranked among the top 20 FBS defensive tackles in PFF run-defense grade in 2024. Those three, along with Nick Bosa, will be the new foundation of the 49ers’ run defense up front."

In addition, the 49ers spent third-round picks on linebacker Nick Martin and nickelback Upton Stout, two more players who will help the run defense.

You have to give the 49ers credit for their commitment to fixing such a big problem. But the solution is to start five rookies, and those rookies probably will struggle at first. Which means the 49ers' run defense might not be fixed until midway through the season, if it ever fully comes together this year.

Stay tuned.