To think, less than two years ago, the San Francisco 49ers were just points away from a Super Bowl victory. It was their second appearance in four seasons.
Last year, the former NFC West leaders looked the part of their record, 6-11. Thus, the number of players who weren't re-signed or were ultimately traded makes sense.
Gone are offensive weapons like Deebo Samuel, Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell, as well as up-front blockers like Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore. Defensive player departures included the likes of linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Charvarius Ward.
General manager John Lynch was very busy this offseason, at least in terms of writing exit papers for all those departures, and head coach Kyle Shanahan's roster looks vastly different on both sides of the ball because of it.
What does this mean for 49ers' rookies from 2024?
Many within the 49ers' front office (and even their fanbase) viewed 2024 as the last season that both Samuel and fellow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk would remain together on San Francisco's roster. Yet, neither of them finished the year with more than 675 reception yards.
Instead, it was veteran tight end George Kittle and wideout Jauan Jennings who had strong seasons.
Thus, it's a good thing the 49ers selected a pair of wide receivers in last year's NFL Draft.
Those two help headline the Niners' crop of second-year pros who'll need to step up big in 2025.
Ricky Pearsall & Jacob Cowing
San Francisco's first-round pick in 2024 missed the first four games after recovering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Despite that early setback to his NFL career, he showcased why he was worth the first-day selection last April.
Pearsall hauled in 31 receptions for 400 yards on 46 total targets. Three of those receptions resulted in a touchdown.
Arguably, his best game last season came on the road against the eventual NFC top-seeded Detroit Lions. Pearsall recorded 141 receiving yards on just eight catches, and he caught a 3-yard score from quarterback Brock Purdy for the first points in the game.
Taken in the fourth round, fellow rookie receiver Jacob Cowing was used sparingly. He tallied just four receptions for 80 total yards in his first season.
With Deebo gone, look for Pearsall and Cowing to have bigger contributions in 2025. While Cowing may not get as many targets as Pearsall, he will be tasked on special teams, again.
Isaac Guerendo
As mentioned, Mason and Mitchell are no longer on the 49ers. The only other featured running back coming back for San Francisco is Christian McCaffrey.
Injuries kept the NFL's 2023 Offensive Player of the Year out for most of last season. Mason took over early on. But he, too, experienced a bout with the injury bug.
Insert another rookie, Isaac Guerendo.
Originally listed fourth on the depth chart prior to McCaffrey's and Mitchell's injuries, the former Louisville Cardinal will (literally) be handed the ball more.
Last season, Guerendo logged 84 carries for 420 yards. He found the end zone four times.
Guerendo was a yard shy of recording his first 100-yard rushing game in Week 6 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. He had another big game when he scored two rushing touchdowns against the Chicago Bears.
In that 38-13 blowout, he had 15 carries for 78 yards. Guerendo also made a pair of receptions totaling 50 yards by air.
He is slated to be the complement to McCaffrey in the 49ers' one-two punch with their rushing attack.
Expect Guerendo to have his first (of many) 100-yard rushing games in 2025.
Renardo Green & Malik Mustapha
While offensive lineman Dominic Puni is a viable player to name as needing to have a big 2025, that was to be expected. Jon Feliciano retired, and Trent Williams' career is coming to a close.
Therefore, with the losses of Hufanga and Wardy, these pair of second-year pros are primed to be big factors in San Francisco's defense downfield.
Renardo Green was the second player the 49ers took in the 2024 NFL Draft. He forced one fumble and tallied one pick in his rookie season.
The 6-foot-tall athlete defended 13 different passes beautifully throughout the year. He even recorded 61 total tackles, too.
Malik Mustapha is two inches smaller than Green. Yet, the former managed to net his first pick in the backfield last season.
The former Wake Forest Deacon had more total tackles than Green as well, finishing 2024 with 72.
As many veterans, especially on defense, departed the Bay Area for other football teams, these rookies from 2024 are not just projected to do better.
They are expected to be better. Especially if the Niners look to return to their third Super Bowl in the past seven years.