The regular season is almost here for the San Francisco 49ers. They play their final preseason game on Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, and then after that, they will get a couple weeks off and head to Australia to take on the Los Angeles Rams.
We’ve only seen preseason games so far, so it’s too early to definitively say which offseason moves were smart and which were not, but it’s not too early to have a hunch.
Let’s dive into two decisions that look like they will pay huge dividends for the Niners this season and two that look like mistakes.
2 49ers offseason decisions that look very smart
Signing Mike Evans
The Niners needed wide receiver help, and veteran Mike Evans was one of the best on the market. It still feels somewhat surreal he’s on the squad, especially after he spent so long with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Evans has been a little banged up so far, which isn’t a huge shock, but he still seems on track to be ready for Week 1. Even if he misses a few games due to injury, the fact he will be a target for quarterback Brock Purdy is just so huge.
The Niners could potentially be a juggernaut on offense if they stay healthy, and Evans figures to be a huge part of that.
Drafting De’Zhaun Stribling
It may have been a questionable decision back in April, but most fans seem to be thrilled the Niners drafted wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The rookie has looked good in both training camp and the preseason, and even though head coach Kyle Shanahan is notoriously hard on his rookie receivers, chances are Stribling will play a big role on offense this season.
Drafting him may look even smart if veterans like Evans or Deebo Samuel get banged up and Stribling is able to fill in for them.
2 49ers offseason decisions that look like a mistake
Signing Christian Kirk
This one is tough because Christian Kirk has just been injured since the start of training camp, so his performance cannot even be judged. The signing made a lot of sense at the time since San Francisco needed a deep threat, but it seems like he may start the year on IR.
That doesn’t mean he can’t be a contributor later in the season, but if this injury lingers and he’s never quite right, then the Niners will look back on signing him with some regret.
Not doing more to address edge rusher
Probably the scariest position group to think about right now for the 49ers is at edge rusher. Nick Bosa is dealing with an ailment, Mykel Williams away not be ready for Week 1, and the depth options are either uninspiring or inexperienced.
Maybe it won’t be that bad, but one cannot help but feel a little bit squeamish, especially since edge rusher was such a glaring weakness for the franchise last season.
These decisions cannot be fully appraised until the Niners start playing games that actually count, so we will have to see how all these decisions look at the end of the season.
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