49ers Ranked Just Outside Top 5 In Way-too-early Power Rankings For 2026

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 17: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers scrambles during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers had another solid season, winning 13 games for the fourth time under head coach Kyle Shanahan, and advanced to the divisional round before being bounced by the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Seattle Seahawks.

It was an impressive year for a 49ers team that was battered by injuries once again, as they managed to go on a run late in the season and steal a playoff game on the road from the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.

But now, the focus is on the offseason, where they’ll have to improve at several positions in order to make a push back to contention in 2026. The opportunity is there; the 49ers will have money to spend in free agency and still hold a bevy of draft picks to add young talent in the 2026 NFL Draft.

However, every year in the NFL is different, and you never know how things will unfold, as we saw this year with the 49ers and their injuries.

Following the Super Bowl, ESPN posted its way-too-early power rankings for 2026, and the 49ers were ranked all the way at No. 6, notably ahead of teams like the Detroit Lions (No. 7), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 8), Green Bay Packers (No. 10), and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 12), among others.

“The 49ers exceeded expectations by finishing 12-5 and winning a road playoff game after a massive roster overhaul and a series of devastating injuries,” ESPN’s Nick Wagoner wrote.

“Given how 2025 went, it’s time for them to go hunting for more star power. Only quarterback Brock Purdy and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir have established themselves as part of the next foundation, which means it’s on the Niners to find more — whether by draft, trade, or signing — to sustain success. The pass rush and receiver groups, in particular, need significant attention.”

The 49ers did finish the 2025 season with a better/equal record to the Jacksonville Jaguars (ranked No. 9) and Houston Texans (ranked No. 13). The only five teams ahead of them in the power rankings were the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks.

As Wagoner shared, the 49ers will need to improve their defensive front and wide receiver groups this offseason. San Francisco’s pass rush really took a hit without Nick Bosa and was one of the worst in the NFL this past season. They will return Bosa and rookie Mykel Williams, who also tore his ACL, but adding an interior defensive lineman makes sense.

Additionally, the 49ers will certainly need an influx of talent at wide receiver. Jauan Jennings is a pending free agent and may price himself out of San Francisco’s range after two quality seasons as a featured receiver. Ricky Pearsall should project as a starter in 2026, but injuries have been an issue through his first two seasons in the NFL. And the other receiver spot will need a replacement, with Brandon Aiyuk not returning to the team.

Still, San Francisco is seen as a borderline top-five team heading into the offseason.