A is for Aiyuk: As in Brandon Aiyuk, of course, San Francisco’s new wonderboy wide receiver whom the 49ers were so enamored with that they sent three draft picks — a first-, fourth and fifth-rounder — to the Minnesota Vikings to move up just six slots in the first round to select him. For those new to the Arizona State standout, Aiyuk pronounces his last name EYEyook. Might want to get to know that one. You’ll be hearing it a lot in seasons to come.
B is for Buck: As in passing the Buck, which is what the 49ers opted to do when they traded star defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in March to acquire the No. 13 overall pick in the first round, a decision that eventually set in motion seven separate San Francisco trades during the three-day draft process. “That’s why we had to make some tough decisions like losing Buck and things like that,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s what allowed us to get a draft pick which gave us a chance to maneuver a little bit.”
C is for Colton and Charlie: As in Colton McKivitz and Charlie Woerner, San Francisco’s opening Day 3 selections in rounds 5 and 6 who represent an injection of new blood and toughness into an offensive front that entered the draft looking to upgrade its depth and competition. Time to enter the ring, boys. Don’t expect either to back down from the challenge.
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Esta historia es de la edición June/July 2020 de Niner Report.
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EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters
Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
Always finding their way to run
49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
