The San Francisco 49ers were the second-best team in the NFC last year. They are currently the second favorite to win the NFC this year. Will the 49ers remain a step behind the Philadelphia Eagles? Or have they done enough to overtake the NFC champions in 2023?
Have the San Francisco 49ers Positioned Themselves To Defeat the Philadelphia Eagles?
Things change quickly in the NFL. We just saw the Los Angeles Rams go from Super Bowl champions to nowhere close to the playoffs. Just because the Eagles and 49ers met in last year’s NFC Championship Game does not automatically mean they will both contend for that spot again.
The 49ers have made several additions to their roster this offseason with the obvious goal of reaching the Super Bowl this season.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
Already possessing a quality offensive line, the team signed four linemen during March, adding to their depth. For a team reliant on its elite zone-blocking run scheme, offensive line depth is paramount.
The 49ers’ moves in free agency allowed them to disregard offensive line in the NFL Draft, something NBCSports’ Matt Maiocco predicted might happen. They didn’t spend any of their nine 2023 NFL Draft selections on an offensive lineman.
In fact, one of the 49ers’ most impactful picks was Michigan kicker Jake Moody in the third round. For the past five seasons, reliable veteran Robbie Gould has been the 49ers’ kicker. But at 41 years old, they let him go this offseason. Kickers are often overlooked in terms of importance, but they matter a lot in actual NFL games. It remains to be seen whether Moody will be an improvement.
The 49ers’ Quarterback Situation Remains in Flux
The biggest question for the 49ers entering the 2023 season is at quarterback. While it’s certainly unfair to say the 49ers would have beaten the Eagles had they not lost both Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson in the NFC Championship Game, at the very least, we can definitively say the game would’ve been more competitive.
During the NFL Draft, Ian Rapoport outlined some very logical reasons the 49ers might trade former third-overall pick Trey Lance. However, as things currently stand, the 49ers still roster the QB.
Purdy appears to be the presumptive starter, but there have been conflicting reports all spring about the timeline of his recovery from elbow surgery.
As Rapoport aptly pointed out, the 49ers may simply be waiting until August when we have a clearer picture of Purdy’s status. If Purdy is trending toward suiting up Week 1, Lance could be expendable. If not, we could see Lance out there to start the season
With that said, the 49ers’ QB room isn’t only Purdy and Lance. They also signed Brandon Allen and Sam Darnold. It is not outside the realm of possibilities that Darnold could wind up as the team’s Week 1 starter.
If there’s one thing Kyle Shanahan has proven, it’s that his system, with the talent around it, can make just about any quarterback work. Darnold’s deficiencies as a passer have nothing to do with the lack of physical talent. He doesn’t process coverages well and makes poor decisions.
Shanahan’s offense can simplify everything, much like it did when their seventh-round rookie was thrust into action unexpectedly, and he won every game. I want to stop short of saying the 49ers’ offense is kind of quarterback-proof, but we’ve seen guys like C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens experience productive bursts in this offense. Darnold would just need to be a game manager.
With all that said, if the 49ers want to overtake the Eagles in the NFC, they will likely need improved quarterback play. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey provide an excellent nucleus of offensive players. But the Eagles have a ton of talent as well … plus the better quarterback.
The Philadelphia Eagles Are Even Better
There’s no denying the 49ers are capable of competing with the Eagles. But they couldn’t beat the Eagles last year, and now Philly is even better.
The Eagles improved their offense by replacing Miles Sanders with the duo of Rashaad Penny and D’Andre Swift. They also used a third-round pick on offensive tackle Tyler Steen to add depth to an already elite offensive line.
Defensively, the Eagles used both of their first-round picks on Georgia defenders, drafting Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith. They also re-signed cornerback James Bradberry.
MORE: 2023 NFL Post-Draft Power Rankings
Jalen Hurts has ascended to a top-five quarterback. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert are three fantastic pass catchers. The offensive line is elite. And the defense should be much improved as well.
The 49ers are undoubtedly a threat to reach the Super Bowl. If these two teams played a best-of-seven series, there’s no doubt in my mind the 49ers would win more than one game.
However, the Eagles remain the class of the NFC. They deserve their spot as the presumptive favorite to return to the Super Bowl. It would not be a shock if the 49ers were the NFC representative in February, but I do not think they have done enough to surpass the Eagles as the best team in the NFC.