The San Francisco 49ers signed quarterback Brock Purdy to an extension and linebacker Fred Warner to an extension within days of each other.
Now, the Niners have the heart and soul of both their offense and defense locked up.
On the offensive side of the ball, San Francisco has all of the key pieces in place: Purdy behind center, running back Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, and tight end George Kittle out there catching passes.
McCaffrey may be the most important piece of the puzzle, and the 49ers were smart to sign him to an extension last season after his MVP-caliber year. Of course, McCaffrey struggled with injuries in 2024 but we know he is still capable of being an elite running back. The Niners have him under contract through 2027, so they have their star in the backfield.
Kittle is a fan-favorite who is a leader on the team and was incredibly deserving of his extension. He was one of the few bright spots in 2024 and he is currently on track to be a member of the Hall of Fame and could very well have a place on San Francisco's Mount Rushmore.
Purdy is the glue to keep it all together. He is the point guard and facilitator who gets the ball out on time to his playmakers. Yet, we have seen that if things break down and a play needs to be made he can do that as well.
Those three together are the soul of the offense.
Turning to the defense, Warner has been the leader of that unit for a long time. He plays through injury and still puts up incredible numbers so the 49ers were smart to ensure that he is going to be in red and gold for a while.
San Francisco also made sure to lock up edge rusher Nick Bosa to a long-term deal prior to the 2023 season. Warner and Bosa are two of the best at their respective positions in the NFL, and the Niners are going to need them to play like that in 2025 if they want to have any chance at the postseason.
Having all of these players locked down does not guarantee anything, but it is nice knowing that San Francisco has the heart and soul under contract on both sides of the ball.
Let's hope having a lot of happy and well-paid stars translates to success on the field in 2025 and beyond.
