Sports Illustrated senior writer Conor Orr released his annual 100 bold predictions for the NFL season this week, and the San Francisco 49ers featured prominently across several of his forecasts.
Orr’s predictions touch on everything from roster decisions and player performance to road travel complaints and a potential family reunion on the defensive line. Some are obvious, while others were a big bolder.
Here’s a look at exactly what he had to say about the Niners:
De’Zhaun Stribling will outperform expectations
Stribling, who went 33rd to San Francisco, will finish higher than at least one first-round pick in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns.
Mike Evans will catch 10 touchdown passes
Speaking of the longtime Buccaneers stalwart, he’ll become a red zone menace in a 49ers offense that no longer has to rely on Christian McCaffrey for the brunt of the dirty work.
The theory about the 49ers’ electrical substation will take a major hit
Bay Area Lifestyle magazine will laud Shanahan, 46, and Lynch, 54, for the way they have embraced the salt-and-pepper phase of life, putting to rest the rumors of possible deleterious effects from the team’s nearby substation. The glowing feature, which includes pictures of the pair sharing a hot yoga studio and drinking a deeply green kale juice, puts to rest the rumors of possible deleterious effects from the team’s nearby substation.
49ers’ will complain about long runway wait times on the way home from San Francisco’s season opener in Australia
Flying 15 hours to Melbourne is torture enough. Having to sit on the runway because of a kangaroo-related incident with the baggage handling carts? Now that is straight-up bollocks! Crikey!
Mac Jones will sign a contract worth more than $30 million per season this offseason
The 49ers’ backup quarterback, who was given a small pay raise after vastly outplaying his deal last season, will become a top free-agent target for teams that need a quarterback but have finished too far outside striking distance for a rising college quarterback in this year’s draft.
Trent Williams will win the NFL’s Protector of the Year Award
The award, which, in its infancy, will still serve as a combination of legacy acknowledgment alongside recognition of great individual play throughout a season, will acknowledge the incredible staying power of Williams, who will turn 38 just before the start of training camp.
Aaron Rodgers eyes San Francisco as possible final destination
With gap-year needs potentially developing for the Rams and Vikings, among other teams with head coaches Rodgers admires and would like to work with, the quarterback will walk away from Pittsburgh after a nine-win, nonplayoff campaign and into a summer of exploring other interests before eventually landing in training camp with either the Packers, Rams, Vikings, 49ers or Cardinals.
George Kittle will not fly with the 49ers to Australia
Despite his valiant efforts to recover from a late-season Achilles tear, the prospect of sending one of the team’s most valuable players on a 15-hour flight to Melbourne feels less than responsible.
Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa will play at least five games together in 2026
While Nick recently said his almost-31-year-old older brother is working on his golf game, San Francisco’s still-needy pass rush and the lingering desire to play alongside Nick will draw Joey out of his long, veteran summer. The 49ers make sense schematically and have the effective cap space to accommodate a slightly more sizable veteran salary.
The 49ers finish 11-6
Orr projects San Francisco to finish third in the NFC West behind the Seahawks and Rams, both of whom he has going 12-5.
Most of these predictions seem pretty normal, apart from the weird ones.
All signs from camp thus far have viewed Stribling as an ideal fit in the offense, while Evans will surely be used as a red zone threat this year. It would be bold for the 49ers to bring Kittle to Australia with the possibility that he could re-injury himself, so him staying home makes sense. And while a Bosa brother reunion seems unlikely, it could happen if both sides feel good about the role and the money.
With the regular season only a few months away, we won’t have to wait long to see if these predictions come true.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst has 10 (mostly positive) bold predictions about 49ers for 2026
Reporting by Oliver G., Rams Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
