Predicting 4 possible 2021 Pro Bowlers from current 49ers offense
The San Francisco 49ers have stacked their offense with several young talented players. Niner Noise predicts which four of them could be in the 2021 Pro Bowl.
Training camp doesn’t have to only matter for the present. It can just as important when looking towards the future. For the San Francisco 49ers, this training camp will be important for looking at the future cornerstones of this franchise.
49ers fans are optimistic about this year after ending last season on a high note, but as newly acquired cornerback Richard Sherman said (h/t sfgate.com), “It was a 6-10 team that didn’t make the playoffs.” This year is as much about finding and developing young talent as it is about contending for a Super Bowl.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the 49ers offense today. The Niners ranked 12th in the league in yards per game as an offense, but only 20th in scoring. But anyone who watched the games last year saw two different teams: the pre-Jimmy Garoppolo 49ers and the Jimmy Garoppolo 49ers.
According to nbcsports.com, the 49ers would have ranked first in yards per game and second in points per game if Garoppolo played every game. That’s an enormous jump from the season averages.
Apart from Jimmy G, several young players began to showcase themselves. From running back Matt Breida to wide receiver Trent Taylor and tight end George Kittle, to name a few, the team has talented young players at nearly every position.
In 2021, these players will have to be the pillars of this franchise. As a former NFL vice president of player personnel said (h/t Bucky Brooks of nfl.com):
"You should have at least six to 12 players on your roster from drafts within a three to four-year period. Those guys should be core players on your roster and major contributors at this stage of their careers."
Well, in 2021, the players from the last two drafts should hit this age threshold. That allows us to evaluate the entire roster.
There are two requirements to be eligible for this list: Be on the 49ers offense this training camp and be under 30 years old. This is an analysis of the young/youngish players on the team, not the established veterans.
Keep in mind that players snubbed from these predictions are still talented. I just chose these four as my most likely bets for 2021.