The San Francisco 49ers have a busy first week of the new league year as they make a number of signings and trades that they hope will give them a chance to compete in arguably the best league in football in 2026.
Heading into free agency, the 49ers didn’t get much respect nationally, as NFL writers and analysts like Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano ranked them as low as 26th overall.
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However, after trading Osa Odighizuwa and signing the wide receiver tandem of Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, Vacchiano moved the 49ers’ free agent strength rankings all the way up to No. 11.
“If he stays healthy — and at his age, that’s a big ‘if’ — wide receiver Mike Evans could be a huge difference-maker in an offense that relied too heavily on running back Christian McCaffrey last season,” Vacchiano wrote. “Defensive tackle Owa Odighizuwa, brought in from the Cowboys, could also provide the boost their pass rush has been lacking.”
The hardest part for the 49ers is that while they improved, the Los Angeles Rams got better and the Seattle Seahawks just won the Super Bowl.
San Francisco needs their top players to stay healthy and they need to play their best football if they want to have a chance at another playoff berth in 2026. It’s possible, but they need everything to go smoothly.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL Power Rankings: 49ers jump spots after big move
