The San Francisco 49ers were bit hard by the injury bug in 2020, but now that their team is back healthy, they could be gearing up for a big season in 2021. The 49ers added some great pieces to their roster this offseason to enhance their opportunity to see success, and there’s a good chance we’ll see a lot of that in the near future.

There are going to be some intriguing storylines to keep an eye on this year for the 49ers. Obviously, the biggest one is at the quarterback position where No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo will battle for the starting job. San Francisco will have some decisions to make early on in the year.

Let’s take a look at five way too early predictions for the 49ers in 2021.

5. The 49ers Will Start Trey Lance Over Jimmy G

My first prediction for the 49ers is that they’ll opt to start Trey Lance over Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance was the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and he will look to make an immediate impact on the 49ers from day one.

Lance has great speed and agility and his pocket presence is as good as the best in the league. Lance, who hasn’t thrown an interception since high school, will look to be the stability the 49ers need at the quarterback position for years to come. Garoppolo was a great stop-gap quarterback for San Francisco, but he simply isn’t the long-term quarterback for the franchise.

4. Jimmy G Will End Up Being Traded

My second prediction is that the 49ers will trade away Jimmy Garoppolo at some point during this upcoming season. If the 49ers do decide to roll with Trey Lance as their starting quarterback, Garoppolo won’t be very pleased with that decision.

Garoppolo doesn’t want to settle for being a backup, but would likely rather be dealt to a place where he could compete for a starting gig. If the 49ers go with Lance, I wouldn’t be surprised if Garoppolo is traded soon after.

3. A Second-Place Finish In The NFC West

My third prediction for the 49ers this upcoming season is that they will finish second in the NFC West. The NFC West is going to be the most competitive division in the league in 2021, and the 49ers will be amongst the best in the league and in the division.

I predict that the 49ers will finish in second place in their division while also making the playoffs. The 49ers are better off with Lance under center and I don’t think it’ll take the team long to realize that. If the 49ers make the right move at quarterback, they could finish their 2021 season in the playoffs.

2. San Francisco Will Have The No. 1 Defense In The NFL

My fourth prediction for the 49ers is that they’ll have the number one defense in the league. The 49ers have always been known for their stout defensive play, and they could get even better now that the unit is back in full health.

Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead stack the defensive end positions while the defense also has some high impact players in Fred Warner, Jason Verrett, and Jimmie Ward on the squad. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 49ers had the best defense in 2021.

1. A Top-10 Offense As Well

My fifth and final prediction is that the 49ers will have a top 10 offense as long as Lance is under center. Lance gives the 49ers the stability they need at the quarterback position and he will have some great weapons to throw to in tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The San Francisco offense is looking locked and loaded for the 2021 season and they could easily have a top 10 squad with the dynamic Lance driving the team down the field. Kyle Shanahan is one of the best head coaches from an offensive standpoint and his play-calling will help the rookie quarterback succeed in a big way.