Which 49ers Second Year Player Will Make the Biggest Leap in 2024?

Their first pick was safety Ji'Ayir Brown, whom they traded up to get in Round 3. He looks good. Other than him, the 49ers have a bunch of disappointments and question marks.

Aug 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Brayden Willis (9) runs / Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

So far, the 49ers' 2023 draft class looks abysmal.

Their first pick was safety Ji'Ayir Brown, whom they traded up to get in Round 3. He looks good. Other than him, the 49ers have a bunch of disappointments and question marks.

Jake Moody missed three kicks in the playoffs and seems to be mentally fragile. Cam Latu was outrageously awful in training camp and spent the entire season on the Injured Reserve List. Darrell Luter Jr. missed most of the season due to injury only to play in the Super Bowl and muff a punt. Robert Beal Jr. appeared in only four games. And Dee Winters, Brayden Willis, Ronnie Bell and Jalen Graham all played special teams and that's about it.

Will an impact player please stand up? Coaches often say that professional football players make their biggest improvements between Years 1 and 2 in the NFL. So if one of these second-year 49ers will make a big leap next season, who will it be?

My money is on Brayden Willis.

The 49ers need someone to replace Charlie Woerner -- he signed this offseason with the Falcons. He was the 49ers' no. 2 tight end behind George Kittle. This offseason, the 49ers tried to sign restricted free agent Brock Wright, but he returned to the Lions. So the 49ers turned to veteran tight end Eric Saubert, who isn't even a lock to make the team. He's a placeholder.

If Willis plays well this offseason, the no. 2 tight end job is his. And he should play well, because he's a quality young tight end. He even got snaps on the field during the Super Bowl when George Kittle was injured.

Willis is the 49ers' best young tight end since Kittle. Get to know him.