• Free agency recap: The 49ers' defense will be a work in progress to start the season, as it lost five players who cracked the top 10 in PFF's free agency rankings.
•Best move of the offseason: Considering the other key losses on defense, bringing in Javon Hargrave,an elite pass-rusher, was paramount to the future success of a team aiming to win it all in 2023.
• Outlook for 2023: San Francisco ranks third in our power rankings, but questions at QB, offensive line and defense deserve significant attention.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
As the dust settles on the 2023 NFL offseason, it's time to assess how each team fared in their quest to improve their roster.
Recapping blockbuster trades and high-profile signings to shrewd draft selections, PFF offers an in-depth assessment of all 32 NFL teams, shedding light on the potential impact these moves may have on their fortunes in the upcoming campaign.
For more information on each team's draft selections and offseason moves, download the PFF draft guide today!
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS OFFSEASON GRADE: C
2023 NFL Free Agency
| FA signings | FA losses |
| DI Javon Hargrave (Eagles) | QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Raiders) |
| DI Kerry Hyder | ED Charles Omenihu (Chiefs) |
| S Tashaun Gipson Sr. | OT Mike McGlinchey (Broncos) |
| C Jake Brendel | ED Samson Ebukam (Colts) |
| DI Austin Bryant | CB Emmanuel Moseley (Lions) |
| QB Sam Darnold | LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Titans) |
| C Jon Feliciano | S Jimmie Ward (Texans) |
Free agency recap: The 49ers' defense will be a work in progress to start the season, as it lost five players who cracked the top 10 in PFF's free agency rankings. However, they managed to land one of the true stars of the free agent class in interior defenderJavon Hargrave. Since 2020, Hargrave ranks third among all defensive interior players in both pass-rush grade and pass-rush win percentage.
2023 Draft class
R3 (87): S Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State
R3 (99): K Jake Moody, Michigan
R3 (101): TE Cameron Latu, Alabama
R5 (155): CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
R5 (173): EDGE Robert Beal Jr., Georgia
R6 (216): LB Dee Winters, TCU
R7 (247): TE Brayden Willis, Oklahoma
R7 (253): WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan
R7 (255): LB Jalen Graham, Purdue
2023 NFL Draft recap
This was a bit of a curious class, headlined by the decision to take a kicker in the third round. Rarely does a kicker provide the type of value that necessitates the 99th overall selection, but in defense of San Francisco here, Jake Moody was the clear top option at the position — he won the Lou Groza Award in 2022 as the nation's top kicker, capping his stellar career at Michigan by hitting on 23-of-25 field goal attempts and posting a clean sheet on extra points. His 56-yarder in the national semifinal against TCU likely alleviated concerns about his range.
While this draft class was limited by the fact the 49ers’ first pick wasn’t until No. 87, that selection, Penn State S Ji’Ayir Brown (the 135thplayer on PFF’s big board), was the only draftee to rank among the top 220 prospects.
Best move of the offseason: Signing DI Javon Hargrave
Considering the other key losses on defense, bringing in an elite pass-rusher was paramount to the future success of a team with aspirations of winning it all in 2023.
A word of caution, however: The Eagles dominated the 49ers on the ground to the tune of 148 yards in the NFC Championship Game, and run defense was not a strength of Hargrave’s in 2022. He finished the season with a well-below-average 49.0 run-defense grade, which was actually his highest grade in the category over the past three seasons.
Remaining team needs: DI
Hargrave will certainly offer a big boost to the pass rush, but he doesn’t solve the issues exposed by the Eagles on run defense. The 49ers should be on the lookout for more beef up front capable of holding up on early downs in order to free up the thoroughbreds on passing downs.
Early position battle to watch: QB Trey Lance vs. QB Sam Darnold vs. QB Brock Purdy
Trey Lance remains on the 49ers roster despite heavy trade rumors, and Brock Purdy may not be ready in time to start the 2023 season. Could this mean Darnold gets the gig early? This is one of the biggest battles throughout the entire league this training camp, as San Francisco looks to have the roster to compete with every team in the NFC as long as the QB position doesn’t hurt their chances.
2023 Outlook
San Francisco ranks third in our power rankings, but questions at QB, offensive line and defense deserve significant attention. Add in having to play two divisional games against a Seahawks team that made big strides last year and looks to have made more upgrades this offseason, and the 49ers could actually be due a bit of a regression.
