The 49ers face an aging, talent-starved roster with high costs tied to a costly 2021 first-round gamble on Trey Lance, while Brock Purdy’s emergence masked earlier drafting misfires that strained roster depth. Across CBS Sports, ESPN and related reports, the franchise’s under-25 talent is limited, injuries and aging have hampered development, and only a few young players, notably Mykel Williams, are viewed as blue-chip prospects, leaving the team reliant on veterans and mid-to-late-round hits.
