On first glance, the 49ers' 2024 season was a dramatic failure.
San Francisco fell from reigning NFC champions to last place in the NFC West, a product of a campaign marred by injuries. Their top receiver, running back and offensive lineman were among the many losses, undercutting an attempt to return to the Super Bowl.
That might incite panic in Santa Clara. Not for these 49ers, though; they found plenty of reason for encouragement amid a trying season.
First up: Left tackle Trent Williams should be fine entering 2025.
"No. Trent's doing well," general manager John Lynch said Wednesday when asked if there was any concern Williams might not be able to play in 2025. "He had a bruise in the ankle joint and it probably took a little longer than anyone anticipated, but sometimes that happens. And the good news is, it's taken a positive turn.
"Trent's mindset is where it always is and he's still very interested in being a great player that he is. And I think he's still got a lot left in the tank. So, Trent's committed as ever and we love having Trent Williams a part of us."
Speaking of commitment, the 49ers are expected to make a significant one to quarterback Brock Purdy in the next few months. The former Mr. Irrelevant is in line to receive a massive payday in the form of a new contract and stated he'd like to get it done sooner rather than later so there's no reason to possibly miss any offseason work.
As a GM does, Lynch didn't outright state it would be done soon. But he expressed plenty of confidence in Purdy as their chosen quarterback for the long-term future.
"Well listen, I think what we know about Brock is that he's our guy," Lynch said. "We've got, we have interest in Brock being around here for a long, long time. He's done so much for our organization, he's won big games. Had a little tougher task, as we all did, this year with some of the things that happened throughout the course of the year. We just never could string games where we were all together. And through that, he continued to lead, he continued to play at a high level. So, we have every interest in him being around."
A player who might not be around is defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, a veteran the 49ers were able to sign via a lucrative offer presented to him in 2023 because of the cap space made available in part by Purdy's low salary. With a Purdy extension anticipated, the 49ers needed to do some financial housekeeping, which meant releasing Hargrave as a post-June 1 designation in January, affording him the chance to test the market on the first day of free agency.
"We had some salary cap challenges and that was something that allowed for the post one, you can early designate it. And what I told Javon is he's a player we really like," Lynch said. "Same reason we went out and signed him. That hasn't changed. He's an impactful player. We did, we do have some challenges and so this doesn't mean we can't compete for his services. It allows him though, rather than waiting until post-June 1, and being S.O.L. because free agency already happened, it gives him an opportunity to go see what's his market and that may include us. So, we'll get into our plans.
"We know Javon, who he is. He's on a good track coming back from his injury. Would we be interested in having him? Of course. Is that something we can come to an agreement on and is it something that fits in our plans? We will see. And that's the exact conversations I've had with Javon."
As for other players with tenuous contract situations, Deebo Samuel tops the list. When the 49ers extended Brandon Aiyuk, some believed that spelled the end of Samuel's time with San Francisco. The 49ers, however, aren't interested in parting with Samuel, a player who has been vital to their pursuit of a Super Bowl triumph since his rookie season of 2019.
"Yeah," Lynch said when asked if expected Samuel to be on the team in 2025. "A good player and has done a ton for this organization and we're not in the business of letting good players (out) of here."
If the 49ers end up moving Samuel via trade -- which would net them $5.2 million as a post-June 1 move -- they have a rising standout on their roster to replace him. A potential swap wouldn't be a simple change of faces and a one-for-one move, but Ricky Pearsall's existence on the team would soften the blow.
San Francisco doesn't seem interested in making such a move. They are, however, quite encouraged by how Pearsall ended the season, catching 14 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in his final two games. Considering the fact he sustained a gunshot wound through the chest just before the start of the 2024 campaign, his recent performances were even more impressive.
"I thought Ricky had an unbelievable season," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I mean, I know the gunshot wound is the biggest obviously, but I've never had a rookie player miss all of OTAs and training camp and have much of a successful rookie year. It's tough to do that.
"For him to do that and then get into Week 1, which I knew he would be way behind because of that situation and then get a gunshot wound kind of made me think that we were going to get nothing from him, just in terms of how could we and how hard that would be on him. But how quick he came back from that and then when he did, just to watch him go through rookie things in a live NFL game and then having to watch him come back from that stuff throughout the year and still hit a rookie wall without a foundation of an offseason and stuff like that, I thought it was a huge success for him this year."
Lynch echoed Shanahan's sentiments, pointing toward Pearsall's desire to continue even after the conclusion of a long rookie year.
"I'd agree. You have these exit interviews and you always take away impressions," Lynch said. "And the coolest thing, some of these rookies are typically they're just done. You think about it, long college year, right to Combine training, you get drafted, you go OTAs, all that. Ricky, one thing he said to me, 'Mr. Lynch, I just want to keep playing because I feel like I'm just getting my feet underneath me.' So that's really cool that he has that excitement and he's going to use that."
Pearsall will have a chance to resume his career soon enough. For now, it's time for the 49ers to rest and perhaps take a much-needed vacation.
Their front office, meanwhile, will be hard at work constructing their roster for the season ahead.
