It's officially the offseason for all 32 teams now after the Seattle Seahawks dismantled the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
In response, the folks over at ESPN published their first NFL power rankings following the big game, which expectedly but the champion Hawks at No. 1 after they rode game-MVP running back Kenneth Walker and a stout defense (one the San Francisco 49ers know all too well) to a 29-13 victory.
Of course, Niners fans probably want to know what ESPN felt about their team's ultimate finish: a loss to Seattle in the divisional round that pretty much proved how big of a gap there is between the two NFC West rivals.
Understandably, San Francisco exceeded expectations by winning 12 games and getting beyond the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card despite a brutal run of injuries and a previous offseason defined by cutting both costs and veteran talent.
Yet that was good enough for only third place within the division. And there are bigger questions general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have to answer that extend beyond just how to remain competitive with divisional talents like the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.
ESPN didn't hesitate to go there.
ESPN's NFL power rankings raise a question 49ers must soon answer
The 49ers finished at No. 6 overall in ESPN's first power rankings of the offseason, which certainly isn't bad at all, given what they had to overcome.
Yet that's not the true point here. Instead, in parallel with the simple rankings, the ESPN panel listed the primary focus for all 32 teams in three words.
For the Niners, it's bluntly obvious: "The next nucleus."
Here's what ESPN's Nick Wagoner had to say about the subject:
"The 49ers exceeded expectations by finishing 12-5 and winning a road playoff game after a massive roster overhaul and a series of devastating injuries. Given how 2025 went, it's time for them to go hunting for more star power. Only quarterback Brock Purdy and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir have established themselves as part of the next foundation, which means it's on the Niners to find more -- whether by draft, trade or signing -- to sustain success. The pass rush and receiver groups, in particular, need significant attention."
Going further, future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams will be 38 years old by the new season's start, and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey will turn age 30 and has no shortage of mileage on his body.
Tight end George Kittle is on the wrong side of 30 years old, too, while Wagoner's comments about both the defensive line and wide receiver rooms couldn't be any truer.
Those blue-chip players are approaching the end of their respective careers rather than hitting their prime, meaning it's time for the Lynch and Shanahan braintrust to start ushering in a new era with new nucleic cornerstones.
Given the rest of the NFC West doesn't appear to be letting up anytime soon, the timeline for doing that needs to start now.