No team has lost more than the 49ers this year.
In an offseason that started with the departure of Jim Harbaugh and most of his staff, the 49ers have also lost more contributions from players than any other team. According to ESPN, the players who left the 49ers this offseason played a whopping 37 percent of the team’s total snaps last year. That’s the most snaps lost of any team in the NFL.
Among the players who were significant contributors for the 49ers last year and won’t be on the team this year are:
Left guard Mike Iupati (1,003 snaps)
Cornerback Perrish Cox (1,003 snaps)
Cornerback Chris Culliver (821 snaps)
Defensive lineman Ray McDonald (724 snaps)
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree (722 snaps)
Defensive lineman Justin Smith (701 snaps)
Offensive lineman Jonathan Martin (685 snaps)
Running back Frank Gore (647 snaps)
Linebacker Chris Borland (608 snaps)
Linebacker Dan Skuta (572 snaps)
Right tackle Anthony Davis (456 snaps)
Linebacker Patrick Willis (366 snaps)
Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (335 snaps)
Special teamer Kassim Osgood (254 snaps)
Punter Andy Lee (145 snaps)
Safety Bubba Ventrone (139 snaps)
(Snap counts via Football Outsiders)
The 49ers added players in the draft and free agency, but it’s hard to believe those additions will be enough to make up for the losses. Which means the 49ers, who took a step backward from 12-4 in 2013 to 8-8 in 2014, are probably going to take another step backward in 2015.