The Athletic lists the 49ers as one of the most overrated teams in the NFL heading into 2024

We haven’t heard much about the San Francisco 49ers suffering from a potential Super Bowl hangover for the second time under Kyle Shanahan. The overwhelming majority of analysts believe the Niners will be right back in the thick of things as they continue to dominate the NFC.

So when The Athletic listed the 49ers as one of the teams they project to be overrated this season, it’ll catch your eye:

San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Shanahan always gives them a chance, and Brock Purdy again has a talented supporting cast, although Brandon Aiyuk faces an uncertain future. Questions loom over the defense, however, with first-year coordinator Nick Sorensen directing a unit that lost Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw to free agency and must deal with the extended absence of Dre Greenlaw, who is recovering from Achilles surgery. The 49ers hope to put another heartbreaking Super Bowl defeat in the past and make another run at a ring, but doing so could prove more challenging than many expect.

It’s crucial to acknowledge the potential impact of Arik Armstead’s absence on the 49ers defense. His contributions, both quantifiable and unquantifiable, have been instrumental in the team’s success over the years. His transition from the edge to defensive tackle elevated the unit’s performance to a new level, a fact that might be overlooked when considering the team’s defensive capabilities.

The secondary should be better as they are more athletic. Talanoa Hufanga’s potential return gives them a playmaker, but Dre Greenlaw’s loss is another unquantifiable player that no team can afford to play without. His timetable to return is uncertain, putting pressure on De’Vondre Campbell to step up in his absence.

Labeling the 49ers as overrated, especially with the assumption that Brock Purdy’s performance will plateau, is a risky proposition. A similar assumption was made last year, and the outcome did not work out. Purdy’s offseason training and his role as a starter, coupled with his ongoing development as a leader, could potentially yield significant benefits for the offense, a factor that should not be underestimated.

I know they didn’t play the toughest schedule in the first month of 2023, but I’d expect to see a more crisp version of the Purdy-led offense this season and for them to have a few new wrinkles while Kyle Shanahan figures ways to get different weapons involved.

The worry, as it seemingly is every season, is whether the offensive line can hold up long enough for Purdy to operate. You only recall the moments of struggle, but based on the production last year, I’d say the 49ers are in a good spot. Colton McKivitz has a year under his belt. Right guard is a question mark, but this is a unit coached by one of the better coaches in the NFL. All the offense needs is 2-2.5 seconds.