What are the 49ers’ 3 biggest offseason needs entering 2023?
By Peter Panacy
49ers offseason need No. 1: Offensive line
If anything, the Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVII showed that offense is vastly more important than defense. KC’s defense was nowhere close in contrast to the 49ers’ top-ranked defense last season, and yet Kansas City’s offense did more than shoulder the load.
Of course, it helps to have an MVP-caliber quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, but he’s also well-protected. That Chiefs offensive line surrendered zero sacks in the Super Bowl to an Eagles team that registered 70 during the regular season.
As such, the Niners have their own O-line questions to answer heading into 2023:
- Are starting guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford good enough to continue?
- Center Jake Brendel is a free agent, but is there an upgrade available?
- What about right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who’s a free agent?
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Specifically McGlinchey, perhaps San Francisco would like a better pass-blocking upgrade, but that doesn’t erase the fact that McGlinchey still helped make the 49ers’ run game a high-value one.
Nevertheless, Philadelphia outworked the Niners’ O-line in the NFC Championship game but failed to do so against a stout Chiefs O-line in the Super Bowl.
San Francisco can learn that lesson.
dark. Next. Niners can stand to learn these crucial lessons from Chiefs' Super Bowl win