The most significant move the 49ers have made to improve their defense this offseason is hiring Robert Saleh as their defensive coordinator. Saleh is widely regarded as an elite defensive mind who can maximize the potential of his players. However, he currently faces a major challenge—the defense has suffered substantial losses, and its depth is questionable.
So far, the 49ers have lost seven key defensive contributors: Dre Greenlaw, Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Charvarius Ward, Isaac Yiadom, and Talanoa Hufanga. Their replacements will likely be either rookies or existing players on the roster, raising concerns about the unit’s strength.
At linebacker, Greenlaw’s role is currently set to be filled by Dee Winters, who recorded 44 tackles over 15 games last season. On the edge, Floyd’s replacement is Yetur Gross-Matos, who has never surpassed 4.5 sacks in a season.
The interior defensive line also faces uncertainty. Hargrave’s spot will be taken by Jordan Elliott, who has only five sacks across five seasons, while Collins’ replacement, Kevin Givens, has managed eight sacks in six seasons.
The secondary has even more questions. Renardo Green, whom the 49ers drafted last year, is slated to replace Ward and shows significant promise. However, Yiadom’s replacement, Tre Brown, struggled last season, allowing a passer rating of 124 while playing for the Seahawks. Meanwhile, at safety, Ji’Ayir Brown is expected to step in for Hufanga, even though he was previously benched when Hufanga returned from injury.
Ideally, none of these projected replacements will be starters when the season begins. The 49ers hope to find impact players in the upcoming draft, but securing seven quality Day 1 starters is a tall order. Even the best drafting teams miss on selections about half the time, and San Francisco, while successful in uncovering hidden gems over the years, isn’t known for consistently finding instant-impact players across an entire draft class.
Given these defensive losses, expect the 49ers to heavily prioritize defense in the draft. Whether they can successfully rebuild the unit remains to be seen, but the current roster suggests the defense has taken a significant step back heading into the season.
Leave a Reply