Every year, teams that make the playoffs have players burst onto the scene. For Baltimore last year, it was rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson. Nobody knew that the athletic quarterback would have that much of an impact out of the gate. The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears had a couple of unheralded players take a big leap as well. Eddie Jackson went from a rookie fourth-round pick to an All-Pro safety in a year.
If the San Francisco 49ers are going to take the next step, a player with a lesser role is going to have to step up and surprise.