Remodel, rebuild, revamp, no matter what you call it, a team restructuring its roster in the offseason usually means many of its players will go through a trial by fire. We don’t need to look further back than 2022 when the LA Rams removed ten players from its locker room, and instead of keeping the veteran faces around, GM Les Snead introduced new faces from the draft. One of the handful of standout names that they kept then was Matthew Stafford.

Bringing in Stafford from the Lions in 2021 was one of the best things that could have happened to the Rams who saw their defense get better led by their offense. In fact, they started their 2023 season slow with 3-6 and quickly turned it into a massive success by winning 7 of their 8 final games to wrap up the season 10-7 and making it to the playoffs. The next season was only better for the Rams with 10 draft signees. The result? Another 10-7 record, an NFC West win, a dominant wild card win over Minnesota, and a close playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl winners– the Philadelphia Eagles.

So, while the Rams took a chance on Stafford, giving him the key to their offense, should the San Francisco 49ers also follow suit? Well, they actually already are. For starters, in the off-season, they bid adieu to nine of their players.

While first, it looked like a cap space issue that they needed to keep Brock Purdy, seems like it is HC Kyle Shanahan’s way of saying that the 49ers are also in a remodel mode with Brock leading the way. However, with the success rate of pulling something like what the Rams pulled, David Lombardi has some thoughts. In his latest YouTube video, The San Francisco Standard‘s David said,

“The 49ers’ big roster renovation is the center of focus. I’ve talked so much about the emulation of the Rams. But one thing that the people are neglecting right now that I think is at the very centerpiece of it all of this is San Francisco’s big bet on Brock Purdy. If you look at the Rams’ model for all of this, the Rams, they didn’t really blossom defensively until the year two of their renovation. That was the 2024 season.

“They were number 29 defensively over the course of their first three months and that improved to No. 5 over the course of the last month and then the post season. So, the Rams bet on Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua in 2024 to carry them. The offense was the locomotive that pulled the train and I think that reading between the lines, it’s quite obvious that the 49ers are looking at Purdy and offense to be the driver of what happens for this football team. This is one of the largest votes of confidence that the 49ers can give Purdy. We know that he’s going to get the contract extension this offseason, and that, of course, is going to be the hard and fast bet on Purdy.”

The Iowa State alum has combined for 3,864 yards with 300 completions for a completion rate of 67.5%, 20 TDs, in 12 interceptions in 15 games with a seventh-ranking QBR of 67.9 in 2024. Not a top-of-the-mark for a QB he has come to be known but far away from the Mr. Irrelevant he was in 2022. So if Kyle does want to take a chance on Purdy, he must have some plan. And he does.

Let’s check out the 49ers’ offseason moves. The San Francisco 49ers traded RB Jordan Mason and released LB Leonard Floyd, DE Javon Hargrave, and DL Maliek Collins – all veteran defensive stars. So naturally, it will have people questioning how they are planning to go into the 2025 season.

The team first released fullback Kyle Juszczyk and re-signed him to a two-year deal. Kyle Shanahan and the team are probably trying to build an offense with Purdy, George Kittle, Kyle, and Christian McCaffrey leading the way while gradually improving the defense that will comprise young players. Crafty strategy, but teams could use some experience! As Dieter Kurtenback of The Mercury News puts it, “They’re getting younger, faster, leaner — you can insert any other cover-up corporate buzzword for “cheaper” here.” Cutting on the player costs, are we?

Top Comment by Robb G

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Well, San Francisco will be drafting a lot of players in the NFL Draft. And why not? They have 11 picks this year, the most of any, and they still have 31 spots to fill. Yes, the team will be young going into the 2025 season, it will be cost-effective for the 49ers, but will it be worth it?

“Just reading between the lines right now, the 49ers are willing to draft this defense. There are going to be a lot of young players, especially on the defensive line. That is a position of man strength. That is, I think, an admission that the defense is not going to be at its peak, at least early in the 2025 season. That in itself is gonna break a lot of brains.”

In 2024, the 49ers were at the eighth position in total defense with 317.4 defense yard average and 50 TDs allowed. Their passing defense was better at the fifth spot with 192.8 pass yards allowed on average and 25 pass TDs allowed. However, their rushing defense fell hard to the 18th rank, scoring defense to 27, and red zone defense to 31. Their defensive line clearly needs work.

After a game against the New England Patriots in early October, Purdy expressed his concerns as he said, “I feel like in the past couple seasons that’s been something that we’re sort of known for, but people scheme us up and they do a good job with just leverage and taking away certain routes. For us, that’s a good opportunity for us to be able to adapt and work on different things as well.”

However, Kyle is clearly up for a challenge, betting on a new offense and an even more new defense. The question, that only the 2025 season can answer would be– Will this be a sustainable move for San Francisco?

So while David ensures Brock’s extension, ESPN analyst Jason McCourty presents a different picture.

Jason McCourty’s wild take: Brock Purdy on the trade block?

Brock Purdy is in the final year of his $3.7 million rookie contract. In 2026, the QB will be an unrestricted free agent. Generally, teams offer their QBs and key players an extension a year before the contract expires. And that’s what everyone’s waiting for – To see if San Francisco will offer an extension to Purdy or not. This offseason, the QB market has shifted dramatically compared to what it was earlier.

The Bills re-signed Josh Allen this offseason for a contract that pays him $55 million per year. Still, he is not the highest-paid QB, Cowboys‘ Dak Prescott is, even after restructuring his contract. The thing this offseason is teams are not raining cash on QBs. Look at Sam Darnold.

Despite the stunning season in 2024, he could have easily landed a $50+ million per year deal. But he only got a three-year, $100 million contract, with just one year of guaranteed money. So, this year, San Francisco might be cautious about paying over $50 million to Purdy. And if that turns into reality, Purdy could ask for a trade, maybe.

Jason McCourty suggests the Steelers, who need a QB, should ring up the Niners’ GM John Lynch to see if they could agree on a QB trade. “Now if you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers, you’ve already traded for DK Metcalf and gave him a big contract. You need to have somebody to throw the ball to them. If you’re the Steelers, why not think about calling up the 49ers and John Lynch?”

The Steelers are looking for an answer from Aaron Rodgers. But if Purdy becomes available in the trade market, he might make a better option than the ex-Jets QB as the Pitts continue to look for a QB1 for their team who can be the primary signal caller for the team. However, if the 49ers are truly looking for a revamp on every position, it would be best for them to trust on at least a handful of now-veteran names like Brock Purdy.