49ers' championship window is still open, but it is rapidly closing

The 49ers still have a chance to win a Super Bowl with the current core of players they have, but the chance to do so only becomes more difficult going forward.

The San Francisco 49ers have experienced their latest postseason heartbreak with the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

While it is easy to be discouraged, it is important to remember that the championship window for the team is still open.

It is just as important to remember that it is rapidly closing.

49ers' championship window is still open, but it is rapidly closing

The Niners have the core of their team returning next season. On the offensive side, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams are all set to come back next year barring something unforeseen.

There is a possibility that Aiyuk could be traded if he and the 49ers are unable to work out a contract extension. However, the Niners would be wise to do everything they can to retain Aiyuk because of how great he was this past season, earning second team All Pro.

They could lose important offensive contributors like Jauan Jennings and return man Ray-Ray McCloud.

But, for the most part, their offensive core is going to remain intact.

On the defensive side of the ball, San Francisco will still have Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Javon Hargrave, and Charvarius Ward. Both Arik Armstead and Dre Greenlaw are still under contract, too, but their injuries may force them to miss a significant part of next season.

The 49ers will also need to figure out what to do with their other edge rusher besides Bosa since both Chase Young and Clelin Ferrell are free agents. It seems highly unlikely that the team will bring back Young, so perhaps they will make an effort for Ferrell.

We will have to see what the 49ers do in free agency, via trade, and through the draft, but it seems like it will be difficult to vastly upgrade the roster going into next year with the team likely making an Aiyuk extension a priority.

But even if valuable pieces leave in free agency, it is important that the Niners still retain their core for these next few seasons. They absolutely must take advantage of these years when Purdy is still playing on his rookie contract. The fact that he provides so much value for so little money allows the team to carry so many star players.

This 49ers team is talented enough and hungry enough to get back to a Super Bowl, but as each year passes by, the chance that they will be able to hoist the franchise's sixth Lombardi Trophy becomes slimmer and slimmer.

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