Are the 49ers Better on Paper Than They Were Last Season?

Let's analyze every move.

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks off the / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers have made lots of moves this offseason, but have they improved? Let's analyze each move and find out.

Leonard Floyd replaces Chase Young

Floyd is older than Young, but also plays harder than Young, who doesn't seem to love football. Floyd will give the 49ers an upgrade at edge rusher, plus he has the ability to drop into coverage, which will give the 49ers the ability to disguise their pressures. Verdict: Upgrade.

Yetur Gross-Matos replaces Clelin Ferrell

Ferrell was a good edge setter for the 49ers run defense, but he wasn't a threat as a pass rusher. Gross-Matos also is a good edge setter, plus he can rush the quarterback from the interior of the defensive line, similar to Charles Omenihu. Verdict: Upgrade.

Maliek Collins replaces Arik Armstead

If both players play 17 games next season, the 49ers will have downgraded significantly. But Armstead has plantar fasciitis, meaning he almost certainly will miss a chunk of the season, and it will be hard for him to outproduce someone who plays every week. Verdict: Upgrade.

Jordan Elliott replaces Javon Kinlaw

Kinlaw is a disruptive pass rusher who can generate pressure and bat down passes, but he plays with high pad level and can be a liability against the run, as opposed to Elliott, who is a run-stuffing specialist. And that's what the 49ers need from their backup defensive tackle -- run defense. Verdict: Upgrade.

De'Vondre Campbell replaces Oren Burks

Burks is an excellent special teams player, but he's a liability on defense. Campbell was an All Pro linebacker just a few seasons ago. Verdict: Upgrade.

Isaac Yiadom replaces Logan Ryan

Yiadom has had just one good season as a cornerback, but he's still better than Ryan, who needs to retire. Verdict: Upgrade.

Joshua Dobbs replaces Sam Darnold

Darnold gets more money than Dobbs, but also turns the ball over more than Dobbs and is less accurate than Dobbs and slower than him, too. Verdict: Upgrade.

Brandon Parker replaces Matt Pryor

Parker has appeared in just five games the past two seasons, and was available much later in free agency than Pryor, who signed with the Bears. Verdict: Downgrade.

Brock Wright replaces Charlie Woerner

The 49ers haven't officially acquired Wright yet -- the Lions have four more days to match his offer sheet, and most likely won't match it, because they have bigger needs. But Wright caught more passes last season (13) than Woerner has caught in his entire career (11). Verdict: Upgrade.

Final Verdict

The 49ers do seem slighly better on paper than they were a year ago, but they haven't made an significant improvements. Mostly they've improved around the edges of their roster, which still counts.