Our longtime nemesis, the Niners, are just getting gutted. So far they've lost or released 12 players (most of them starters), including Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuels, Kyle Jusczyk, and of course Aaron Banks.
Kyle Juszczyk (released)
Maliek Collins (released)
Dre Greenlaw (signed with Broncos: three years, $35 million)
Charvarius Ward (signed with Colts: three years, $60 million)
Talanoa Hufanga (signed with Broncos: three years, $45 million)
Aaron Banks (signed with Packers: four years, $77 million)
Jaylon Moore (signed with Chiefs: two years, $30 million)
Elijah Mitchell (signed with Chiefs)
Leonard Floyd (released, signed with Falcons: one year, $10 million)
Most of those guys are going to be hard to replace this season with anything close to comparable value. Fortunately they have 11 picks in this year's draft (roughly 1 of every 21 picks in the Top 150), because they just got 4 comp picks (and a fairly high draft slot at #11), but most of those guys aren't going to quickly be replaced by rookies. And they can't spend much on free agency, because they only have about $40 million in cap space, and Brock Purdy is patiently waiting outside John Lynch's door expecting a roughly $40 million extension.
And that still leaves George Kittle, who they may not even decide to extend at all, considering the fact that by the time they seriously contend again he'll have played out the extension and probably considering retirement.
They're carrying $89 million in dead money, meaning over 25% of their salary cap is being used by players no longer on their roster. They have a serious rebuild ahead of them, and I think it's going to be a couple of years before we have to worry about beating them in the NFCCG again. I remember that 3 or 4 years ago, the last time they beat us in the NFCCG, most of us saw this coming and called it. The way their payroll and roster were structured, there was simply no way it could be avoided.
In fact, I'm surprised it took as long as it did - I thought it would happen in 24, but then again I guess you could say the disintegration started last season, because that roster wasn't even close to contending.
The good news for them is that they'll probably be drafting higher again next year than they're used to drafting, and they'll probably have lot of picks again because they'll collect a bunch of comp picks from this free agent exodus. But, Packer fans, we got our wish - we no longer have to worry about getting past the Niners in the NFC! Just as we all knew was coming!
Except I don't think any of could have remotely expected that the Lions and Vikings were going to become 2 of the toughest teams in the league, the Bears were going to become a club that we actually have to seriously fear, and the NFC North would (top to bottom) become the strongest division the NFL has seen in a generation or more.
Be careful what you wish for, I guess.