Shortly before the start of the 2024 NFL season, ESPN has released its ranking of the 100 best players and the 49ers can represent the league's top eight players.
San Francisco stars Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey all made the list. All eight players also made the NFL's player-voted top 100 list, although Dre Greenlaw did not make either list. Greenlaw was No. 76 on the NFL's list and is not listed on ESPN's list.
This is what ESPN's rankings and season forecasts look like.
Deebo Samuel – No. 66
Prediction for 2024: 62 pass catches, 923 yards, 6 TDs
Samuel is one of the most versatile and polarizing players in the league and is poised for another strong season as a jack-of-all-trades on offense. With his skills as a rusher and pass receiver, Samuel is the perfect player for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan's high-movement offense.
While the NFL listed the 28-year-old as the league's No. 30 player, ESPN seems to disagree. Durability concerns and San Francisco's myriad playmakers could limit Samuel's offensive output, but he's a deep threat every time he touches the ball.
Brandon Aiyuk – No. 33
Prediction for 2024: 75 pass catches, 1,067 yards, 7 TDs
Despite a lengthy break in training camp, Aiyuk remains the No. 1 receiver for quarterback Brock Purdy.
The 26-year-old is coming off his best season and ESPN believes he will be one of the best receivers in the league. While he was ranked 66th in the NFL, he has cut that number in half here. Given his 17.9 yards per reception in 2023, the second-highest in the league, it's likely that Aiyuk will continue his upward trend.
Brock Purdy – No. 30
Projection for 2024: 3,909 yards, 24 TDs, 11 INTs (173 yards/2 TDs rushing)
Purdy, now entering his third year as quarterback, is expected to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. ESPN and the NFL differ slightly on the rankings: Purdy is No. 28 on the NFL list and No. 30 here. ESPN is predicting another solid season, though not nearly as productive as last one, in which Purdy set a franchise record for passing yards.
With the 24-year-old in the final year of his cheap rookie contract, this could be the last time Purdy has the full arsenal of offensive weapons at his disposal before painful salary cuts occur in San Francisco.
George Kittle – No. 22
Prediction for 2024: 63 pass catches, 845 yards, 5 TDs
Kittle has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league and that will likely continue this season. However, he is ranked much higher on the NFL list, at No. 14 overall, while ESPN has him at No. 22.
Part of that is due to the 49ers' offensive depth. There are only so many yards and touchdowns that can be scored in a game, and Kittle may not put up the impressive numbers of years past. Still, his skills as a pass receiver and blocker are top-notch, and he will contribute in ways that don't show up on the stat sheet.
Fred Warner – No. 18
Prediction for 2024: 144 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INTs
Warner is one of the most important players on San Francisco's fearsome defense and is poised for another dominant season. However, ESPN doesn't rate him as highly as the NFL, with Warner ranked 11th overall on the NFL's list.
After his third All-Pro season, the 27-year-old is expected to have another successful season under new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen. With fellow linebacker Greenlaw recovering from a torn Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII, Warner will be in charge of leading San Francisco's linebacker corps starting in 2024.
Nick Bosa – No. 16
Prediction 2024: 56 tackles, 10 sacks
Bosa is one of the few 49ers on ESPN's list to improve his ranking and is one of the best edge rushers in the league.
The NFL has him ranked 27th, ESPN has him at 16th, and Wagoner believes Bosa is in for one of his best seasons. With Leonard Floyd as a pass rusher, Bosa won't be double-covered as often as he has in past seasons, which should give him more opportunities to get past defenders.
Trent Williams – No. 14
The foundation of San Francisco's offense is Williams, one of the best defenders the league has ever seen. Although the likely Pro Football Hall of Famer is still sitting out due to a contract dispute, ESPN expects him to suit up for the 49ers and have another stellar season.
There's a significant discrepancy, as the NFL has Williams as the No. 7 overall player, while he's No. 14 here. That could be due in part to Williams' lengthy retirement and the fact that he hasn't played every regular-season game since arriving in San Francisco via a transfer in 2020.
Christian McCaffrey – No. 9
Projection for 2024: 1,218 rushing yards, 12 TDs (526 yards, 4 TDs receiving)
In his first full season with the team, McCaffrey was only named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and led the league with 2,023 yards from scrimmage, but the 28-year-old believes he has more left in the tank and could have another impressive season.
He was the third-best player in the NFL, and ESPN still has him ranked 9th in the top 10. ESPN believes it will be difficult for McCaffrey to improve on his stellar season from last year, not to mention that San Francisco will be inclined to give him a break if needed to reduce his workload.
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