Over the last few years, the San Francisco 49ers and their fans have endured a roller coaster of NFL experiences. From Jim Harbaugh’s super bowl run to the Colin Kaepernick debacle to the Chip Kelly experiment. The bay has certainly seen its ups and downs. Rock bottom never looked closer after securing the second overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Controversy spiraled out of control but was slowed when the organization hit the “reset’ button on the franchise. Since then, things have looked up, and the Niners faithful has reason to believe in the five reasons why the 49ers are true contenders.
Before we get into the reasons why they are for real, let us take a look at their roster. Jimmy Garoppolo has already been locked into a long-term deal, making him “the guy” in San Francisco. Behind him is newly acquired Jerrick McKinnon and Matt Breida. Marquise Goodwin and Pierre Garcon will return as the main wideouts with stellar rookie Dante Pettis receiving a majority of the slot reps. George Kittle looked great last year and could continue in an increased role. The offensive line is a work in progress, even with free agent acquisition Weston Richburg and day one selection, Mike McGlinchey.
On the other side of the ball is a culmination of first-round picks and intense veterans. Solomon Thomas, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead are the talents many would envy on that defensive line. Rueben Foster headlines an average linebacking corps. After signing Richard Sherman, they bolstered their secondary but will bank on the improvement of sophomore defensive backs.
Everyone around the league knows what this team is capable of, it is just a matter of execution. The red and gold will almost certainly be fighting for a playoff spot come winter. However, a wildcard spot is not their ceiling. Here are five reasons why the 49ers are true contenders.
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