Is 2023 the End of the 49ers' Super Bowl Window?

The easiest way to make a roster younger and cheaper is through the draft, which the 49ers largely have foregone the past few seasons.

The 49ers aren't what you'd call a young team.

In fact, they're the fourth-oldest team in the NFL, they have the sixth-oldest offense and the 10th-oldest defense. And they're an incredibly expensive, top-heavy team, with high-priced veterans such as Trent Williams, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward. Those are 11 of the 22 starters.

And the 49ers don't have many promising young players, with the exception of Brock Purdy, of course. That's partially because the 49ers traded three first-round picks for Trey Lance, who no longer is on the team. But it's also because the 49ers have drafted extremely poorly the past few seasons, with second- and third-round picks who have made no impact, such as Drake Jackson, Ty Davis-Price, Danny Gray, Ji'Ayir Brown, Cam Latu and Trey Sermon.

The easiest way to make a roster younger and cheaper is through the draft, which the 49ers largely have foregone the past few seasons. Instead, they've built their roster through free agency and trades, which is why they have so many players who either are approaching 30 or already have reached that milestone. It's also why the 49ers have lost most of their depth.

It's possible the 49ers will draft well next year and replenish their roster with much needed young talent. But that's next year. For now, for the older players such as Kittle and Armstead and Williams, this season very well could be their last good chance to win the Super Bowl.

Kind of a sobering thought.