Niner Noise
FanSided

5 reasons the 49ers should be considered playoff contenders in 2019

By Timothy L. Miller

DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after defeating the Oakland Raiders 34-3 in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after defeating the Oakland Raiders 34-3 in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

San Francisco 49ers fans have good reason to be optimistic going into the 2019 season. And here are five key reasons why they’ll be legitimate playoff contenders a little less than a year from now.

The San Francisco 49ers 2018 season has come to a merciful end. With only four wins, the positive takeaways from the season are few and far between. This horse is dead. There is no reason to continue beating it.

For fans of NFL teams not in the playoffs, this is the time of year that seeds of hope are planted.

The first steps towards rehabilitation for non-playoff teams can be taken on Feb. 12, 2019. This is when teams can franchise or transition tag players. The NFL Scouting Combine runs from Feb. 26-Mar. 4. The real action will begin on Mar. 11. This is when teams may begin to contact and negotiate with unrestricted free agents. The new league year begins 4 p.m. ET, Mar. 13. Teams may begin signing free agents. This is the starting gun for the race to Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Florida.

It is not uncommon for teams that have as few as four wins to make a push for the playoffs the following year. Especially when that team will be gaining as much as the 49ers will in healthy players. It will, however, take more than a healthy roster to ensure contention in 2019.

With pressure mounting on both head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, this offseason will be the catalyst for the future success or failure of the team. The expectation is for this to be an active offseason for San Francisco.

So let’s explore some of the factors that will contribute to the Niners’ playoff contention in 2019.