Niner Noise
FanSided

5 teams that could have 49ers-like turnaround in 2020

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the football en route to scoring on a 22 rushing touchdown ahead of cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the football en route to scoring on a 22 rushing touchdown ahead of cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Baker Mayfield, Browns
Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers went from a four-win team in 2018 to a few minutes away from winning the Super Bowl a year later. Which teams could see a similar rise in 2020?

While it stinks to admit and acknowledge the San Francisco 49ers were ultimately the losers of Super Bowl LIV, it’s important to realize head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad was a four-win team the year before.

Going from four wins one season to a Super Bowl berth the next is no easy task. And the 49ers accomplished that.

The challenge for the Niners is to stay atop Super Bowl contention, while a huge chunk of the other 31 teams around the league are hoping for a similar kind of turnaround in 2020. With the NFL Draft now complete, most teams’ rosters are set in place heading towards Week 1, ultimately giving each team and their fans hopes this year will be the one in which the playoffs go from aspiration to reality.

So, which underwhelming 2019 squads will have a 49ers-like rise in 2020? Niner Noise takes a look at five team candidates who could achieve such a turnaround.

No. 5: Cleveland Browns

2019 Record: 6-10

The Cleveland Browns were supposed to be the league’s darling team last year, and one could argue the 49ers’ 31-3 Week 5 beatdown in prime time ended Cleveland’s season.

Yet the pieces are there for the Browns to make a turnaround, particularly if quarterback Baker Mayfield is able to put it together under first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski will likely have a solid wide receiver corps at his disposal, as it doesn’t look like Odell Beckham Jr. is going anywhere. Adding safety Andrew Sendejo from the Minnesota Vikings and offensive tackle Jack Conklin from the Tennessee Titans were solid moves, too. Pairing those two with Cleveland’s top two picks in the 2020 draft, Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills and LSU safety Grant Delpit, should give the Browns a solid foundational piece to at least compete with fellow AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.