At this point, the San Francisco 49ers have their entrenched stars on both sides of the ball heading into the 2026 season. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some breakout candidates among the players locked into a roster spot.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles identified an under-the-radar breakout star for all 32 teams and landed on starting right guard Dominick Puni as the top candidate for the 49ers this year. Puni started all 17 games for the second consecutive year and has established himself as an anchor for the future of the team.
After an impressive 2024 debut — especially for a third-round rookie — Dominick Puni wasn’t quite as good in 2025 according to PFF, but he still only gave up one sack. He has started every game at left guard for Kyle Shanahan’s club since he arrived, which is no small feat considering how many 49ers have been injured recently. At his best, Puni is a physical mauler in the ground game who can really move people. If there’s a leap to be made in his pass protection in Year 3, he could ascend to one of the league’s more well-regarded interior linemen.
The 49ers will need their young players to step up in a big way soon, as their veterans age and potentially leave in the future. Puni should be among the top contenders for that role on the offensive line and on the team as a whole. He’s only 26 but is already a leader, and that should continue as he heads into his third season.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst names 49ers RG Dominick Puni as possible breakout candidate
