49ers make serious jump in new NFL power rankings after early moves
The San Francisco 49ers have been quite busy in the first week of the new league year, as they have made a few signings and a trade that they hope will give them a chance to compete in arguably the best division in football in 2026.
Before free agency, the 49ers didn’t have a ton of national respect, as NFL writers and analysts like FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano ranked them 26th in his power rankings.
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However, after trading for Osa Odighizuwa and signing receiver duo Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, Vacchiano moved the 49ers to 11th in his power rankings after free agency.
“If he stays healthy – a big ‘if’ at his age – wide receiver Mike Evans could make a huge difference for an offense that relied far too heavily on running back Christian McCaffrey last season,” Vacchiano wrote. “And defensive tackle Owa Odighizuwa, acquired from the Cowboys, could also give their pass rush the juice they’ve been missing.”
The hardest part for the 49ers is that even though they have improved, the Los Angeles Rams have improved and the Seattle Seahawks just won the Super Bowl.
San Francisco will need its best players to stay healthy, and they’ll need to play their best football if they want to have a chance at earning a playoff spot again in 2026. It’s possible, but they need things to go well.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL Power Rankings: 49ers move up several spots after big moves
