The 49ers lock down Purdy, Kittle & Warner for their 2025 campaign, but can they overcome major injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Malik Mustapha? All the details.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The San Francisco 49ers front office sent a clear message this offseason: the championship window is wide open. By signing quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner to massive new deals, the team has secured its foundation for the foreseeable future. But as the ink dries on those contracts, a harsh reality is setting in. Star receiver Brandon Aiyuk and promising safety Malik Mustapha are expected to miss the start of the season with significant injuries, casting a long shadow over the team's hopes for a bounce-back year.
George Kittle's four-year, $76.4 million extension makes him the highest-paid tight end in the league, with $40 million guaranteed.
After a dismal 6-11 campaign in 2024, General Manager John Lynch and Coach Kyle Shanahan have put their money where their mouth is. The decision to extend Brock Purdy, Fred Warner, and especially George Kittle—to a record-setting $76.4 million deal—is a massive vote of confidence. It signals that last season's struggles were an anomaly, not the new norm. Adding to that sentiment, fan-favorite fullback Kyle Juszczyk re-signed after a brief dip into free agency, telling reporters he came back to win a Super Bowl in San Francisco. These moves aren't just about retaining talent; they're about recommitting to a veteran core that knows how to win.
Just as optimism begins to build, the injury report delivers a sobering blow. Brandon Aiyuk, the team's top wideout, is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL and is not expected to be ready for the start of the season. His absence will be a massive challenge for an offense that finished a middling 13th in scoring last year. On the other side of the ball, safety Malik Mustapha (ACL) and linebacker Nick Martin (lower body) are also slated to miss Week 1. For a defense that ranked a lowly 27th in points allowed in 2024, starting the year without two key contributors is a recipe for a difficult start.
So what does the outside world think? Las Vegas oddsmakers are cautiously optimistic, placing the 49ers at +2000 to win the Super Bowl—the seventh-best odds in the league. However, that optimism is tempered by computer rankings that place them as the 19th-best team. These odds reflect a team with immense top-end talent but serious question marks, stemming from last year's 1-5 division record and the current injury situation. The +150 odds to win the NFC West suggest a competitive race, but one the 49ers are far from guaranteed to win. It seems bettors, like the fans, are waiting to see if the Niners can overcome their early-season hurdles.
The front office has placed its bet, locking in the core leadership for years to come. But with key players already on the mend, the 2025 season feels like a high-stakes gamble from the jump. The path back to contention is clear, but it's paved with adversity. The big question heading into training camp is whether the healthy stars can carry the load and keep the team's Super Bowl aspirations alive until reinforcements like Aiyuk can return. The Faithful are hoping the answer is a resounding yes.
