The No. 1 offseason storyline for the San Francisco 49ers this year could be devastating for a team that needs a rebound year in 2025.
San Francisco posted just six wins and a 6-11 season last year, and missed out on the playoffs entirely while finishing last place in the NFC West.
Hopes of a resurgent 2025 are strong with the newly signed Brock Purdy and a hopefully healthy Christian McCaffrey. But so far through the offseason, reports are that McCaffrey doesn't look right.
Grant Cohn of SI thinks this all started after McCaffrey's fumble in the Super Bowl.
"McCaffrey fumbled in the red zone during the opening drive of the game. He went on to average just 3.6 yards per carry against the Chiefs," Cohn wrote. "Then last season, when he finally returned from bilateral Achilles tendonitis, he averaged a mere 4.0 yards per carry and never ran faster than 17.4 miles per hour. Then, he tore his PCL after just four games. This past week at OTAs, McCaffrey still didn't seem that have the fifth gear that made him so special when he was younger.
"He used to reach his top speed effortlessly -- now, he has to strain and drive his knees harder."
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports noticed the same thing.
"In 2023, three-time Pro Bowl running back McCaffrey was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year, and the 49ers reached overtime of the Super Bowl before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs," writes Podell. "In 2024, McCaffrey played four games while dealing with bilateral Achilles tendonitis and a PCL injury in his knee, and the 49ers went 6-11. Those 11 losses were tied for second by a team in the season after a Super Bowl loss ever.
"How much the soon-to-be 29-year-old running back participates in mandatory minicamp and how he looks will be something to watch because San Francisco's 2025 hopes may rest on his banged-up body."
It could be really bad news for the team and its fans, unless McCaffrey is just taking it easy this offseason in anticipation of giving it a full go in 2025. Let's let this thing play out a little before we jump to any conclusions.