5 offseason decisions in 2024 that already make 49ers look genius

The 49ers can thank their offseason efforts for these five moves that are generating positive results right out of the gate.

Winning the offseason doesn't net any awards or trophies, and no one cares how good an NFL Draft class or free-agent class is if it doesn't result in a playoff appearance or a Lombardi Trophy.

Yet champions are built during the offseason, then refined during training camp. That's where roster building, depth charts and competition winners are achieved.

The San Francisco 49ers had something of a tumultuous offseason entering 2024, yes. Contract disputes with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, left tackle Trent Williams and even running back Christian McCaffrey dominated the headlines. But those developments were only part of all the goings on for general manager John Lynch and Co.

There were other choices Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan had to make, too.

While it's still early in the regular season, these five offseason decisions are certainly panning out well for the Niners.

No. 1: Drafting Dominick Puni

One of the bonuses of this year's NFL Draft was it was phenomenally deep with offensive linemen.

While fans were clamoring for San Francisco to use a first- or second-round pick on a lineman, the route taken ultimately landed Kansas' Dominick Puni in Round 3, and the offseason development during his first training camp was quite exceptional.

The 49ers haven't had much luck with third-round picks over the years, aside from All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.

But, so far, grabbing Puni is looking like a genius move.

No. 2: Starting Dominick Puni

It's one thing to draft a promising player. It's another to be convicted enough to start him in year one.

Yet that's precisely what the Niners did with Puni at right guard, following his own rapid ascension up the depth chart and in light of injuries to fellow linemen during camp, Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano.

Puni looked like a five-year veteran with some thump in San Francisco's regular-season opener against the New York Jets, earning no shortage of praise from league analyst Brian Baldinger.

All signs point to Puni being a top-flight 49ers lineman for the next four years, perhaps longer.

No. 3: Signing Isaac Yiadom

For years, the Niners struggled to fully round out their defensive backfield, leaving at least one hole in the secondary that'd be a liability.

After inking veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom to a one-year deal, this no longer seems to be the case.

Paired with fellow corners Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, Yiadom demonstrated in camp that he wouldn't be the weak link at the third level of the defense, and that aspect was on display when he broke up a key pass off the hand of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers late in Week 1's showdown.

It might not be a long-term solution, but Yiadom is justifying San Francisco's faith in him.

No. 4: Pushing Jordan Mason up the depth chart

Most 49ers knew undrafted running back Jordan Mason was special in some way, and over his first two seasons, there were hints of promise. But, for any team employing All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, someone like Mason would be an afterthought almost by default.

Despite also having Elijah Mitchell, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor Jr. and Matt Breida on the preseason roster, the Niners felt confident moving Mason up to the primary spot on the depth chart behind McCaffrey.

Mason certainly seized the opportunity in Week 1 of the preseason, too, after McCaffrey was shelved with a calf issue.

Of course, few would have predicted Mason kickstarting the regular season with a 147-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Jets on Monday Night Football.

With McCaffrey still nursing his injuries, fans can feel more than comfortable in Mason's presence as the go-to guy.

No. 5: Cutting bait with failed 3rd-round draftees

Remember that part about third-round picks and the kind of success San Francisco has had with them?

The 49ers have at least been willing to part ways with failed third-rounders before (see running backs Trey Sermon and Tyrion Davis-Price) instead of continually hoping those draftees turn things around. Too frequently, teams cling to that kind of hope for far too long (see the New York Giants with quarterback Daniel Jones).

Then, just before the regular season, the Niners did so again twice by bidding farewell to wide receiver Danny Gray after two uneventful seasons and tight end Cameron Latu after a failed year-plus in a San Francisco uniform.

Gray and Latu may benefit from a change in scenery. But the 49ers deserve credit for recognizing that neither will be of vital importance to their current Super Bowl aspirations, and rather than holding onto either/both, saving those roster spots for players who'd make a bigger impact was certainly the wiser move.