San Francisco 49ers: 3 realistic goals for 2021 season

49ers Goal No. 1: Push for a 10-win season, playoff berth

Yes, every team’s goal is to win a Super Bowl each and every year. If a team isn’t doing that, it’s doing something wrong, right?

In the 49ers’ case, though, a Super Bowl might just be out of reach. Despite the offseason moves and addition of Trey Lance to the fray, the realistic expectation might be noticeably shorter than hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. The Niners still have major depth concerns at cornerback and wide receiver, and some of the skill positions are going to see a transition over the next two years anyway.

San Francisco 49ers

Particularly at quarterback and running back.

The Lance selection shows the Niners front office is taking the long-game approach, focusing instead on the next 10 years of the franchise rather than going “all in” on 2021. It’s the right move, particularly knowing a quarterback on a cheap rookie contract can help afford expensive extensions in the near future for keystone players like EDGE Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner.

At the same time, though, San Francisco isn’t in a rebuild. It’s under pressure to put together a winning season now. While there are plenty of reasons why (injuries, the start of the rebuild, etc.), Kyle Shanahan has still had three losing seasons out of four as a head coach, and all three have been 10-loss campaigns.

Reversing that number and securing a 10-win season would show the 49ers are entering a productive transition phase while getting into the playoffs would help some of the younger players like Lance understand the rigors of the increased pressure.

It’s not as exciting a goal as winning a Super Bowl. But it’s certainly more realistic and can help the young core develop just as effectively.