Four 49ers That are Poised for a Breakout Season in 2023

For the San Francisco 49ers last year, the players who elevated and broke out were Dre Greenlaw, Brandon Aiyuk, Talanoa Hufanga, and Jake Brendel.

Every team in the NFL is bound to have at least a few players have a breakout season.

For the San Francisco 49ers last year, the players who elevated and broke out were Dre Greenlaw, Brandon Aiyuk, Talanoa Hufanga, and Jake Brendel. There's little reason to doubt that there won't be other players in 2023 who follow in their footsteps. Here are the four 49ers that are poised for a breakout season in 2023. 

Deommodore Lenoir

I just had to name a cornerback first. Deommodore Lenoir has actually been a player who caught my attention early on back in his rookie year training camp with the 49ers. I always believe he was the better cornerback than Ambry Thomas. He demonstrated much stickier and fluid coverage on the man he was guarding. That is why he got the nod to be the starter against the Packers in Week 3 in 2021. Unfortunately, he got annihilated by Davante Adams, so the 49ers never went back to him, as if that was something to be ashamed of going against the best wide receiver in the league. 

Lenoir kept his head high and kept working at it. He did not allow that to deter him as he ended up bouncing back in 2022 by filling in admirably for Emmanuel Moseley when he tore his ACL. It was rough in the early goings, but Lenoir kept at it and eventually became an adequate starter. Now that he is getting a full offseason holding onto a starting job, I think he ends up putting it all together and really shows he can be one of the better No. 2 cornerbacks in the league. 

Jordan Mason

I recently wrote about how the 49ers should slowly phase out Elijah Mitchell for Jordan Mason, so of course he was going to make this list. Mason made the most of every opportunity given last season and is deserving of more this year. I'd even argue he is the better runner than Mitchell. He's at least more dependable considering Mitchell is injury prone. All of the skills and traits that Mason possesses is perfect for the 49ers offense. 

He's aggressive and doesn't shy from contact, has vision and excellent elusiveness, but most importantly is he protects the football. That is what Kyle Shanahan values the most out of his running backs. If you cannot protect the football, you will not play. The only thing keeping Mason away from breaking out this year is the opportunities and Mitchell stands in his way of that. Regardless, he'll see some share of the field as Christian McCaffrey isn't going to be a workhorse running back since he will be called upon a lot as a receiver too.  

Brandon Aiyuk

You're probably questioning why I have Brandon Aiyuk here. I get it. Aiyuk basically had a breakout season in 2022, so how could he have a back to back one? Well it's simple. He's going to vastly improve upon what he did last year in 2023. What's crazy to me about Aiyuk is, for as great as he was last season, he still had so much more to give. Multiple changes in quarterbacks and still some underutilization from Kyle Shanahan played a heavy hand in that.

This season Aiyuk is entering a contract year. Just because the 49ers picked up his fifth-year option, worth $14 million, doesn't mean he's going to maintain the same level. Aiyuk knows what is at stake this year. He has a chance both to factor into the success of his team charging straight ahead for a Super Bowl and increasing his value. Even Aiyuk himself thinks he's going to "take off" in 2023, so I have no doubt that he will register career highs yet again. 

Drake Jackson

The 49ers have continually hyped up and put an immense amount of pressure/expectations on Drake Jackson going into his sophomore season. It must mean he is bound for a breakout season right? Well, the 49ers better hope so because they will look like fools for putting so much onto the shoulders of Jackson. Not to mention that the defensive line could really use Jackson this upcoming season. Nick Bosa needs an effective sidekick just like Batman does with Robin. 

The last time the 49ers had that with Bosa it was in the form of Dee Ford. And that defensive front was a literal cheat code. 2023 has a chance to be that and more, but they will need Jackson to live up to the hype that his coaches have created for him. Aside from what the team is saying, I think Jackson can be an impactful pass rusher. I envision a six or seven sack season from him, while also having a handful of plays where he throws the quarterback off.