It’s the final week of 2024. All over the world, people are finalizing New Year’s resolutions, looking at ways to better themselves in 2025. The 49ers are doing the same, as they should be after a disastrous 2024 campaign that saw them eliminated with three weeks remaining in the regular season. No 49ers offseason comes without drama and speculation, so one on the heels of a season like this one should be extra nauseating.
49ers generalmanager John Lynch made his weekly appearance on KNBR Friday morning. He joined Greg Silver and Derek Papa ahead of a Monday night matchup with the Lions, one that was billed as one of the league’s premiere matchups on the entire calendar when the schedule was released last spring. The Lions did their part, the 49ers were far from doing theirs. A big reason why was fourth quarter execution. Silver denoted to Lynch that the Niners’ fourth quarter point differential was an abysmal -53. That contributed to a trio of divisional collapses that effectively buried San Francisco in the season’s first 1o games. Lynch elaborated on the 49ers inability to finish.
Another part of the off-season that promises to be a part of heated debates everywhere is the pending contract extension of Brock Purdy. The third-year QB regressed from a sterling 2023 campaign in 2024, but then again so did the entire team. Injuries contributed, but Purdy’s play, especially in the clutch, left much to be desired regardless of the cast around him. Larry Krueger discussed the hot button issue this past week on Niners Nightly. Although it is clear that Purdy is outside the class of quarterback elites, the market will likely dictate a handsome deal for the former Mr. Irrelevant. And he deserves much of that money, especially after playing on a generational discount for his first three seasons.
“I think you’re crazy if you think he’s settling for $45 Million,” Krueger said before further explaining why he thinks the Niners QB will break 50.
Finally, the always controversial topic of 49ers kicker Jake Moody. Like almost the entire roster, Jake Moody’s 2024 wasn’t ideal. It had its highs, and was far from a disaster, but his unprecedented draft stock will always follow him. A third round pick should be nails, always. Moody wasn’t. After demonstrably showing his frustration with a Miami miss this past weekend, Kyle Shanahan offered confidence to Moody at a press conference earlier this week.