The club’s march to the Super Bowl was not something widely anticipated around the NFL heading into the 2019 season.

The 49ers kept a large portion of their roster together, though such high-profile players as Joe Staley (retirement), DeForest Buckner (trade to Indianapolis) and Emmanuel Sanders (signed with New Orleans as a free agent) no longer are around.

The 2019 season began so well for cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

How he practices and plays this season will determine the 49ers’ level of interest in retaining him beyond this season.

If Thomas plays really well this season as a rotational player, another team likely would make him a greater offer than the 49ers as a free agent next spring.

The most likely scenario for Thomas’ return to the 49ers in 2021 is if he is a steady player who would be willing to accept a near-minimum offer.

But he will likely have to show it a lot more often this season to collect his scheduled pay in 2021.

The 49ers restructured linebacker Kwon Alexander’s contract late in the season.

And after his strong performance during the 2019 season, he won.

But Jimmy Garoppolo is coming off the best season for a 49ers quarterback in nearly a quarter-century.

Looking ahead past this season, it does not appear likely the 49ers would have a reasonable option to provide an upgrade over the quarterback they have under contract through the 2022 season.

The 49ers are looking to accomplish a feat that hasn't been done since the 2014 season.

Will the 49ers run it back and reach Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay.

ESPN's Football Power Index ranks San Francisco as the third-best team in the NFL, and best in the NFC, with a projected 10.2 wins going into the 2020 season.

Though the New Orleans Saints come in as the second-best NFC team by ESPN's FPI, they have a 13 percent chance to make the Super Bowl, one place higher than the 49ers' 12 percent odds.

All in all, ESPN's FPI gives the Kansas City Chiefs (21 percent) the best Super Bowl odds, with the Baltimore Ravens (17 percent) behind them and ahead of both the Saints and 49ers.

The schedule towards the end of the season doesn't help the 49ers, too2

The Niners opened a lot of eyes last season, and will look to pull a New England Patriots and avenge a devastating Super Bowl loss this season.

It will take a long, long time for people to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo's overthrow of Emmanuel Sanders in the 49ers' Super Bowl LIV loss.

The 49ers quarterback topped Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Gardner Minshew and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.

The 49ers' late Super Bowl collapse proved how quickly a game can change with the ability to air it out like Mahomes can

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