As the 49ers contemplate the sea of change that is an annual NFL ritual in February, it's worth remembering the franchise has a core of players that will likely lead to another set of great expectations in 2022.
The 49ers were considered Super Bowl contenders as the 2021 season began, staggered to 3-5, then ultimately made it to the NFC Championship Game and a 20-17 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are in the process of evaluating a supporting cast to go along with a roster which already has a number of elite players in place.
A look at the top 10 players under contract who will form the nucleus of a 2022 49ers team that will have their eyes on Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz.:
1. QB Trey Lance
Lance at No. 1? Absolutely, because he's the quarterback and because the 49ers used considerable capital to draft him in 2021 and then put him on the shelf for a year to gain experience. Jimmy Garoppolo did an admirable job in 2021, but Lance will open up an entirely new playbook and set of options for offensive play-caller and designer Shanahan. If Lance isn't ready, the 49ers won't be either.
Lance says: "I learned how to be a pro from a lot of these guys, especially Jimmy. I learned a lot about myself in terms of what I need to work on from the leaders in this locker room."
2. WB Deebo Samuel
The designation "WB" stands for "wide back" which is what the 49ers are calling the hybrid wide receiver/running back that made Samuel unique among NFL offensive players. With 77 receptions for 1,405 yards, 59 carries for 365 yards and 14 total touchdowns, Samuel was the primary mover and shaker all season.
Samuel says: "It did kind of catch me by surprise, all the things I was able to do. It's a trust thing I feel with Kyle and Mike and all the other guys to be able to go out there and do what they want me to do."
3. DE Nick Bosa
A funny thing happened to Bosa in what is usually a slow climb after an ACL tear. He got better. A lot better. Bosa had 15 1/2 sacks in the regular season and four more in the postseason. And now he gets to work out instead of rehab to be even better in 2022. A 20-plus sack regular season in 2022 is not a pipe dream.
Bosa says: "This year I'm going to give my knee a lot of time to chill, and then I'm going to get back and I'm going to get in the best shape my life for sure. And I was in the best shape of my life this year."
4. TE George Kittle
Kittle had 71 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns despite missing three games with a calf injury. Since Kittle's picture should be in any phrasebook next to "reckless abandon", a missed game or three is always a possibility. But his toughness in both the pass and run games is central to the 49ers' mindset.
Kittle says: "Everything you do in the offseason leads to the season. The work that you put in is what you reap in the end. Try to be the same person every single day. The more I'm in the league, the more it makes me appreciate the team that we have."
5. MLB Fred Warner
Although he struggled early with expectations after signing a five-year contract extension worth a maximum of $95 million, Warner was pretty close to his 2020 form during the 49ers' strong finish. Warner had a team-high 137 tackles, can range sideline to sideline and has developed into a vocal leader of a strong defense.
Warner says: "I haven't thought about what's next. I thought we were going to the Super Bowl and now that we're out of it I have to take that time to reflect and figure out what I'm going to do. Got to let the body recover until I really get back into it."
6. LT Trent Williams
Williams had what he considers to be the best season of his career at age 33 and appears to only be getting better. He'll be the primary bodyguard for Lance, who may not have the quick trigger Garoppolo did in terms of getting rid of the ball. And the 49ers' blocking scheme enabled Williams to expand his game and show off his athleticism.
Williams says: "I was able to come in with a team that saw me in their long-term plans. I was able to get a pretty good offseason training, knowing what scheme I would be playing. That allowed me to come in and play a more consistent brand of football and be more of who I thought I could be and should be."
7. DT Arik Armstead
Any talk that the 49ers erred in trading DeForest Buckner so they would commit financially to Armstead has been silenced. They became a different defense once Armstead moved inside full-time after splitting time at end and tackle. He had six sacks from Week 17 through the postseason and was a force as a run-stopper.
Armstead says: "Each season brings different challenges. The way we responded was great to see, to keep fighting. We kept playing for one another and that was a a great part of the team this year."
8. WR Brandon Aiyuk
Started in the doghouse and ended up in the vicinity of the penthouse. Aiyuk was the 49ers' most dangerous conventional wide receiver finished with 56 for 826 yards and five scores. If he hits 2022 with a running start, he's probably a 1,000-yard receiver and a dangerous downfield target for Lance.
Aiyuk says: "I get to go into the offseason healthy which is a huge blessing. Got to go through an entire season and now get to start the offseason on my own terms and work on what I want to work on instead of starting rehabbing."
9. FS Jimmie Ward
Lots of question marks in the secondary, but Ward is not one of them. He's been with the Shanahan regime since they arrived and is counted upon for his positional versatility and leadership on the back end. Had all three of his interceptions (including postseason) against Matthew Stafford, which can't be a bad thing when facing their NFC West rivals.
Ward says: "I've been on teams where you can feel the negative vibe in the locker room. But everyone was still coming to work and keeping their head up and trying to help dig ourselves out of this (3-5) hole. We know there will be change. I trust in John and Kyle to do their job — that's what they get paid for."
10. FB Kyle Juszczyk
Had 30 receptions for 296 yards and eight rushes for 22 yards but Juszczyk's game is not about stats. Shanahan uses his fullback extensively, and the ability of Juszczyk to block as well as give play-calling and play-designing flexibility is important in the 49ers' system.
Juszczyk says: "We have a lot of young talent that's going to be here for a long time. The fact that we were able to overcome so much and know what it takes, that's good for us going forward when you combine that experience with the talent we have."
Five to watch
RT Mike McGlinchey: Lost to a torn quad after eight games, McGlinchey's absence cost one of the NFL's better run-blockers at his position.
CB Emmanuel Moseley: The 49ers' top corner when healthy — which hasn't been often enough. Moseley has played in 23 of 33 games over the last two regular seasons.
DT Javon Kinlaw: A big-bodied end and first-round draft pick in 2020, Kinlaw's chronic knee pain required surgery the 49ers hope will make him a factor in 2022.
CB Ambry Thomas: A long-armed corner who Shanahan termed one of the club's biggest surprises after a slow start, will go into 2022 with a good shot at being a starter.
C Alex Mack: Mack showed he could still play in 2021 and felt rejuvenated and challenged by the 49ers style of play. He'll decide whether a 2022 season is in the cards at age 36.
