The 49ers are the consensus number-one roster in the NFL. The roster boasts the number one offensive lineman, running back, linebacker, and arguably defensive end and tight end.
PFF released their top 50 NFL player list for 2023, and the 49ers have four players in the top ten. Christian McCaffrey (#10), Fred Warner (#9), Nick Bosa (#7), and Trent Williams (#3) are the four 49ers representatives.
Sam Monson of PFF gave his thoughts on all four players.
Christian McCaffrey, RB
The most complete back in football, Christian McCaffrey remains the all-purpose yardage monster in the NFL that he was in college at Stanford. Sadly, the 49ers don’t let McCaffrey return kicks the way he did in college, but CMC racked up 2,443 all-purpose yards across 20 games last season, including the Super Bowl run. He broke 86 tackles and dropped only one pass.
Fred Warner, LB
Playing linebacker in today’s NFL has become increasingly difficult, and very few players do it consistently well. Fred Warner continually remains atop the PFF rankings with elite grades despite those challenges. Last season, he notched a 90.3 PFF overall grade, grading well in every facet of play despite an unusual uptick in missed tackles to 28 over his 20-game season. Warner is the gold standard at a challenging position.
Nick Bosa, DE
Nick Bosa was seen as having a slow start to the season because he recorded just one sack in the first four games, but also racked up 20 total pressures and three 90.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grades in that span. Bosa was a dominant force all season long and racked up an absurd 27 total pressures in three playoff games, including 12 in a Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. He is one of the best all-around players in the game — at any position.
Trent Williams, LT
Perhaps nothing better sums up Trent Williams‘ dominance than the fact that he has actual highlight reels as an offensive tackle. He didn’t give up a sack all last season while posting a 92.6 PFF run-blocking grade. He was one of only two tackles in the game to earn PFF grades of at least 80.0 as both a pass protector and a run blocker, and the only one to do so with an overall mark north of 90.0.
The 49ers will make another run at a Lombardi with this roster and will be a favorite to return to the Super Bowl with this loaded team.
