49ers make serious jump in new NFL power rankings after early moves – Niners Wire

The San Francisco 49ers have been fairly busy over the first week of the new league year, as they’ve made some signings and a trade that they hope will give them a chance to compete in arguably the best division in football in 2026.
Prior to free agency, the 49ers weren’t getting a ton of national respect, as NFL writers and analysts like FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano had them ranked as low as No. 26 in his power rankings.
However, after trading for Osa Odighizuwa and signing the wide receiver duo of Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, Vacchiano has moved the 49ers all the way up to No. 11 in his post-free agency power rankings.
“If he stays healthy — a big ‘if’ at his age — wide receiver Mike Evans could be a huge difference-maker for an offense that was way too dependent on running back Christian McCaffrey last season,” Vacchiano wrote. “And defensive tackle Owa Odighizuwa, acquired from the Cowboys, could give their pass rush the juice it lacked, too.”
The tough part for the 49ers is that, even though they improved, the Los Angeles Rams got better and the Seattle Seahawks just won the Super Bowl.
San Francisco will need their top players to stay healthy, and they’ll need to play their best football if they want a chance to earn a playoff spot again in 2026. It’s possible, but they need things to go right.
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