ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF
After suffering a 24-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field, the San Francisco 49ers will travel back to the west coast with uncertainty surrounding the team’s future.
Final pic.twitter.com/hMAKesB8kL
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 29, 2023
This marks the second straight season in which the Niners fell just one win shy of a Super Bowl appearance. Head coach Kyle Shanahan called Sunday’s loss in Philadelphia “a lot harder.”
“I mean losing feel awful,” Shanahan said. “This one was a lot harder I thought.”
"Losing feels awful. But yeah, this one was harder." – Kyle Shanahan pic.twitter.com/S2YBg100VV
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) January 30, 2023
Free Agency
The 49ers have a handful of unrestricted free agents entering the offseason. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, safety Jimmie Ward, as well as defensive ends Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu are a few key players San Francisco will be forced to re-sign or let walk.
49ers’ key unrestricted free agents this off-season: OT Mike McGlinchey, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, S Jimmie Ward, DE Charles Omenihu, OL Jake Brendel, K Robbie Gould, S Tashaun Gipson, DE Kerry Hyder, DE Samson Ebukam, G Daniel Brunskill, CB Emmanuel Moseley.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2023
Despite the possibility Garoppolo leaving, the Niners still have two quarterbacks on their rookie contract — Trey Lance and Brock Purdy. With Garoppolo and Lance sidelined due to injuries, Purdy led San Francisco to seven straight victories until the NFC Championship Game.
✅ Last pick of the draft
✅ 7-1 as a starter
✅ Came back in NFC Championship game after injuryBrock Purdy is Mr. Irrelevant no more 👏 pic.twitter.com/8KM5cnGwde
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 29, 2023
After the loss, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said Purdy has “nothing to be sad about.”
“When Jimmy [Garoppolo] went down against the Dolphins, like we didn’t know what our season was going to be,” Warner said. “[Purdy] came in and did a heck of a job. He’s the reason we’re here right now.”
"He ain't got nothing to be sad about. He's the reason we even got to this game." – Fred Warner on Brock Purdy pic.twitter.com/wCigFP0aN1
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) January 30, 2023
2023 NFL Draft
San Francisco will wait 98 picks before making its first draft selection this April.
In 2021, the Niners forfeited three first-round picks — including their 2023 first-rounder — to trade up to No. 3 overall to draft Lance.
Last October, the 49ers traded their 2023 second-round pick to the Carolina Panthers to acquire running back Christian McCaffrey.
Despite its lack of draft capital in the first two rounds, San Francisco has three consecutive third-round draft picks — 99th, 100th and 101st overall. The Niners will wait through the fourth round before making seven more draft selections in the final three rounds.
How many draft picks do the San Francisco 49ers have in the 2023 NFL Draft, and where are they slated in the draft order? Let's dig in. https://t.co/eRTr14xlb9
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 30, 2023
