The San Francisco 49ers have high hopes for the 2026 season. Getting to the NFC Championship Game hasn't been a problem during the Kyle Shanahan era, but everybody is hoping it's finally time for the next step.
On paper, the 49ers have one of the most talented rosters in the league. Health has always been a concern, but Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa should all be healthy and ready to go in 2026.
There's a good amount that has already been learned this summer, but there are still some questions that need answering. Today, let's identify the biggest question surrounding each position group.
Quarterback: How Good can Brock Purdy be?
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Kyle Shanahan has had success with pretty much every quarterback he's ever had. The assumption is that the 49ers can be a contender with any competent quarterback because of the friendliness of this offense.
However, Purdy has shown some flashes that indicate he's not merely a system quarterback. Shanahan has never had a truly elite quarterback in San Francisco, which is probably why he has yet to win a ring. If Purdy takes another step and becomes one of the game's best passers, the 49ers' ceiling is limitless.
Running Back: Is There Enough Depth Behind Christian McCaffrey?
Christian McCaffrey played in all 17 games in 2025, but he missed most of the 2020, 2021, and 2024 seasons with injuries. As a result, the 49ers need to make sure they have a capable backup just in case.
Right now, Jordan James, Kaelon Black, and Isaac Guerendo are the primary backups. James hasn't gotten many chances in the league, and Guerendo was a total ghost last year. Is it smart to rely on a rookie as RB2?
Wide Receiver: Is Depth Good Enough Without Ricky Pearsall?
The 49ers unfortunately won't have Ricky Pearsall all season. Pearsall showed some nice flashes last year and was definitely on his way to becoming a key piece in 2026.
Without Pearsall, it will be interesting to see who steps up behind Mike Evans. Can rookie De'Zhaun Stribling step up, or will a veteran like Deebo Samuel or Christian Kirk end up playing the largest role?
Tight End: Can George Kittle Get and Stay Healthy?
By all accounts, George Kittle is recovering well from last season's Achilles injury. The star could still miss a few games at the beginning of the season, though, and any time he misses will be a big loss.
The thing is, Kittle is going to turn 33 during this season and he's coming off a serious injury. Will he be the same player? Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the league, so even if he's not exactly the same, he should still be a big boost for the offense.
Offensive Line: Who will Win the Left Guard Battle?
Four of the 49ers' five starting spots are settled on the offensive line. The one question is left guard, where Robert Jones, Connor Colby, and Carver Willis are battling for the spot.
As of right now, Colby is the favorite and has gotten most of the first-team reps. Much could still change between now and Week 1, though, so it will be interesting to see if Colby hangs on to the spot.
Defensive Line/EDGE: Is the Pass Rush Going to be Better in 2026?
The 49ers' pass rush was among the league's worst in 2025. Nobody had more than four sacks, and that simply cannot be the case in 2026.
Of course, Nick Bosa is back, so that problem should take care of itself. It would be nice to not have to completely rely on Bosa, though, so who will step up? Osa Odighizuwa was added, and he's one of the best interior pass rushers in the league, which will definitely help.
Linebacker: Can Dre Greenlaw Return to Form?
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Dre Greenlaw only played in two games in 2024 and eight games in 2025. It's thus been a couple seasons since Greenlaw has been elite, so is his past his prime or does he have a couple of seasons left in him?
If Greenlaw plays even close to how he played during his first stint with the 49ers, the team will easily have the best linebacker duo in the league.
Cornerback: Can Renardo Green Hold on to Starting Spot?
Renardo Green was not great in 2025, so 2026 is considered a make-or-break season. The 49ers added veterans Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs this offseason to push the young corner.
So far, Green has responded to the challenge. Green has easily been better than Jones and Hobbs this summer and is on track to keep his job. Can he hold it for the entire season? Better yet, can he take a step and form a lockdown duo with Deommodore Lenoir?
Safety: Who Starts Next to Ji'Ayir BRown?
Ji'Ayir Brown has easily been the best safety on the 49ers this summer. Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle had been sharing first-team reps this summer, but Mustapha is now dealing with a hamstring injury.
Neither Mustapha nor Sigle were that great in 2025 anyway, so the free safety spot is a big question. If Mustapha's injury is more serious than initially thought, perhaps the team will look outside for a safety.
