The San Francisco 49ers’ season ended in crushing fashion against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Brock Purdy, who came into the season as the team’s No. 3 quarterback, was injured on their first drive of the game. His backup, Josh Johnson, was later forced out of the game with a concussion.
Unable to do anything on offense without a healthy quarterback, the 49ers lost the game 31-7. They are now beginning their offseason preparations as they will look to get over the hump during the 2023 season and get back to the Super Bowl.
On paper, this is one of the strongest rosters in the NFL. General manager John Lynch has done an excellent job of loading up Kyle Shanahan’s team with high-end talent on both ends of the ball, leading to plenty of success on the field in San Francisco.
There aren’t many glaring needs on this roster heading into the offseason. Figuring out the quarterback position is of the utmost importance, but the roster is in pretty good shape. The only position that could need some reinforcements is cornerback.
Emmanuel Mosley is hitting free agency and there is a chance Jimmie Ward will be moving on as well. Jason Verrett and Dontae Johnson are also set to hit free agency, leaving Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir atop the depth chart.
While the team could be in worse shape, the secondary did spring some leaks at times during the season. If they can add another impact player at the position, it could go a long way. One name to keep an eye on is James Bradberry.
Bradberry played this season with the Eagles after getting released by the New York Giants as a cap casualty. He had a great season playing opposite Darius Slay, earning an All-Pro Second-Team nomination.
Turning 30 in August, there is certainly a chance that Bradberry can be signed to a short-term deal for either one or two seasons. If that is what his market shapes up as the 49ers would be smart to pursue him aggressively. That would give them another great corner to pair with Ward on the perimeter with Lenoir moving into the slot.
Dependable, playing 1,000+ snaps in four consecutive seasons, Bradberry is going to have a big market that the 49ers will have to compete with. But, he is worth it as one of the best cornerbacks and players, in general, available this offseason.
