There’s no doubt that last season the NFC West took a major step forward and became the toughest division in the NFL. Not only because the Super Bowl champion came from this division, but also because the Los Angeles Rams reached the conference championship game, while the 49ers were eliminated in the divisional round.
The weakest team, clearly, is the Arizona Cardinals, who have begun a rebuilding process. However, the Seattle Seahawks won 14 regular-season games, while both the Rams and the 49ers finished with 12 wins each. They were simply the best teams in the NFC, and it looks like that won’t change anytime soon, especially with how aggressively they are building their rosters in free agency.
The Seahawks lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, but they still have a roster full of talent. Meanwhile, the Rams made a statement by trading for Trent McDuffie, one of the best cornerbacks in the league. On the other hand, the 49ers signed Mike Evans, a future Hall of Fame wide receiver who still has plenty left in the tank.
The 49ers are now tied with the Chiefs in betting odds
The addition of Mike Evans is undoubtedly a major move for the 49ers, who have struggled at the wide receiver position due to both lack of top-end talent and injuries. The former Texas A&M standout will be a huge boost for Brock Purdy. Although Evans is coming off his lowest production season, he has recorded 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in his career.
Evans is a physically dominant receiver and nearly unstoppable in the red zone. That’s why this move has already impacted betting markets: the 49ers are currently tied as the sixth favorites to win the Super Bowl at +1600 odds, alongside the Chiefs, according to FanDuel.
Even so, the 49ers are still behind the Seahawks and the Rams, their division rivals, who are considered among the top Super Bowl favorites-especially the Rams, who will have home-field advantage at SoFi Stadium, the site of the next Super Bowl. After them come teams like the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers, before reaching the tier where the Chiefs and 49ers are currently placed.
There is still a long way to go before the season starts, but the 49ers may be making one final push to win the Super Bowl. In a league as competitive as the NFL, that championship window slowly begins to close. The 2026 season could be decisive. It sounds harsh, but that’s the reality of this league.
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