Hot takes and predictions for this upcoming season
3 weeks left to the regular season start, let's shake things up with some hot takes.
Image: @jetmckinnon1/Instagram
With the season fast approaching and things calm in the NFL for COVID-19 precautions, it seems this season might actually happen. And with that, I want to see some hot takes as well. First article here.
I really want to see what the community has to say and what your takes are for this upcoming season. So drop your hot takes and predictions in the comments below.
Here are some of mine (Warning: It can get extremely hot):
#1
Niners trade Nick Mullens to an East Coast team with an injured quarterback for a mid-rounder and a late rounder. Chances are a team gets desperate for a good/average QB like Mullens, and midseason injuries make someone pull the trigger. There were already rumors that teams had offered picks going as high as a 4th rounder, so it is not out of question. Shanahan continues his Beathard obsession and keeps him as the backup. Mullens is going to be a free agent and chances are, the Niners won’t be able to keep him with the Warner extension fast approaching, meaning it would be best to recoup that value now rather than later.
#2
Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Taylor are given the reigns to the passing offense and both end up with more receiving yards than George Kittle by seasons end. Taylor has the best chemistry with Jimmy and is his favorite target on 3rd down, and Aiyuk was hand picked by Shanahan to be the #1 WR in this offense. Kittle gets double teamed basically every play, which causes him to finish with less than 1000 yards, although his impact on the game stays the same. Deebo misses the first couple weeks which allows Dante Pettis to get an opportunity to regain his form. Pettis has shown good signs so far during training camp, and Jimmy seems to trust him again which is a big step.
#3
Niners DL becomes more impressive and arguably better than last year. Nick Bosa with a full year under his belt means that he’s going be better and a tougher guy to block, absolute animal. DJ Jones back and 100% healthy, he will clog up running lanes like nobody else in the league. Absolute unit. Jones becomes a top 10 DL in the NFL by the end of the season, assuming his injury does not limit him. Dee Ford, if he stays healthy reminds us all why we traded a 2nd for him, when he’s on the field he gets to the QB like nobody’s business. Arik does his thing but becomes an afterthought due to the pure success of the rest of the line. The depth on this defensive line when healthy is the best in the league, no question. Also, Javon Kinlaw takes a while to get going, but just like Deebo in the past season, after mid-season takes over and plays like a beast.
#4
No K’Waun, no problem. There’s a reason the 49ers were rated so highly on defense last year and an injury to a top guy shouldn’t scare the 49ers at all. The depth is off the charts and guys like Moseley, Verrett, and Witherspoon can easily fill in. There are plenty of guys who provide great depth in the secondary. I love the Jonathan Cyprien signing, he’s a nice addition, but I’m most excited for Ronnell Perkins out of Missouri. He’s fast, a hard hitter, and knows how to cover in a zone defense. He’s got a lot of potential, bringing another element in the depleted secondary over the course of the season and I predict he will make the most out of it. You will know his name and story in the next couple years, just like how Moseley made his name this season the same way.
#5
People are gonna buy McKinnon’s jersey… finally. The Rise of Jet. He’s never played a regular season game. He was paid the big bucks by Lynch and Shanahan 2 years ago, but never got to prove it, even though there was an argument that when he is on the field he is worth that money. Obviously he’s not gonna be worth as much now. But I think he will stay healthy, and become the 2nd RB in this committee for the Niners, and the primary 3rd down back. His catching ability and speed is a matchup nightmare for all teams. Mostert, McKinnon, and Coleman. McKinnon and Juszczyk out of the backfield will be a linebacker’s nightmare, a safety’s nightmare, and the last thing a DC wants to deal with.
Where do the Niners have holes? I can’t find them. This is going to be the top defense in the league, and it has a chance at top offense as well. All you need to do is go back to the Falcons in 2016. That was Ryan’s second full season with Shanahan and he won MVP, which nobody saw coming. This offense can do the same with Jimmy under center and another year of experience for the young guys. I’m putting the bar as high as I can because I know what this squad is capable of. There’s no team standing in their way outside of Seattle in the NFC West, and the rest of the NFC are all questionable. The 49ers will cruise their way to the Super Bowl not unlike this season.
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I predict the Super Bowl is announced early and pulled way ahead, held in Montana, and is purely a distance kicking competition. Niners sign that crazy Norwegian tricky kicker dude and win as a result of him launching a 95 yd field goal while balancing a pint of mead and holding a fish.
By November people will have forgotten about Covid-19. Thanks, Murder Hornets.