CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the 2025 NFL season draws closer for the Browns, it’s time to look at what each of the teams they will play this season has changed ahead of the season.
I will provide these opponent breakdowns over the next several weeks leading up to the start of the season as we look at the biggest addition, subtraction, best draft pick and what they all mean for when they play the Browns.
Next up in our series is the Browns’ Week 13 opponent: the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers were one of the bigger disappointments in the NFL last season, finishing last in the NFC West at 6-11. Injuries played a big role with Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Talanoa Hufanga among many others playing fewer than half their games.
This has also been an offseason full of a lot of departures including trading Deebo Samuel to the Commanders and losing players like Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward in free agency.
How will the 49ers look after an offseason of transition?
Here is a look at the 49ers offseason moves.
Check out links to earlier editions of this series at the bottom of this post.
Biggest addition: Long-term stability at quarterback
The 49ers offseason was much more about who left than who they brought in. But the most notable move they made was re-signing Brock Purdy to a five-year extension worth $265 million.
Purdy is easily the best player picked last in an NFL draft in history. He wasn’t as good in 2024, but some of that could be pinned on the significant injuries around him.
He’ll have more pressure to deal with this season, but Purdy certainly at least gives the 49ers above-average quarterback play. His presence alone should help stabilize things as San Francisco transitions out of its championship window.
Biggest subtraction: Hufanga.
This was a hard decision to make because the 49ers just lost so much from this offseason. Their list of departures is simply massive in both quality and quantity.
But for this exercise, I’m giving a slight nod to Hufanga, who signed with the Broncos in the offseason for three years and $45 million.
Injuries have limited the former All-Pro to just 17 games played in the last two seasons. But when healthy, Hufanga is a dynamic safety with seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 49 games played.
His departure continues a heavy youth movement in the San Francisco secondary with Deommodore Lenoir the only starting DB from the Super Bowl runner-up two seasons ago.
Best draft pick: Edge rusher Mykel Williams.
The 49ers had an interesting draft featuring a really good third day and a very nice first-round pick in the former Georgia star.
I was a big fan of Williams all the way back to his freshman season in 2022, including in the Peach Bowl vs. Ohio State. Williams is long and relentless as a pass rusher.
He will have to refine his counters, and he did not have a lot of production at Georgia with 14 sacks in three seasons. But there is a lot to love about Williams as a prospect.
What it means in their matchup with the Browns
The 49ers, like the Browns, feel like they’re a team in transition. But unlike the Browns, the 49ers are set at quarterback and still feel like a more talented team, particularly on offense.
Both of San Francisco’s lines lost plenty of talent, including Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins at defensive tackle and guard Aaron Banks signing elsewhere this offseason. The offensive line in particular is becoming a real worry with Trent Williams now 37 and not much proven youth outside of right guard Dominick Puni.
The Browns, who have invested plenty of their assets this year on both lines, should be able to take advantage of those departures. The question will be whether they have enough talent to keep up with the 49ers and their skill players, who are still really good.
It’s clear San Francisco’s contending window is pretty much closed with what they’ve lost. But they have enough star power on both sides of the ball to beat anybody. The advantage for the Browns right now, as it was two years ago when they stunned a then-undefeated 49ers team, will be a 1 p.m. home start time against a West Coast team.
Catch up on the series
Cincinnati Bengals, Weeks 1 and 18
Baltimore Ravens, Weeks 2 and 11
Green Bay Packers, Week 3
Detroit Lions, Week 4
Minnesota Vikings, Week 5
Pittsburgh Steelers, Weeks 6 and 17
Miami Dolphins, Week 7
New England Patriots, Week 8
New York Jets, Week 10
Las Vegas Raiders, Week 12
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