San Fransisco 49ers: Offseason Wants, Needs & Preview

[Finished 6-10 Overall]

Injury after injury after injury. The 49ers had a rough go around in 2020 after advancing to the Super Bowl just one season prior. Following that loss in the Super Bowl, the 49ers clearly had a "hangover" season. Unfortunately, a Tylenol and some Gatorade weren't the fixes this team needed. With all of the injuries the 49ers racked up last season, it was nearly impossible for them to get back to the playoffs in 2020.

San Fransisco had pro bowl level talent on IR this past season:

• QB Jimmy Garoppolo

• TE George Kittle (returned for Week 16)

• RB Raheem Mostert

• OL Ben Garland

• C Weston Richburg • DT Solomon Thomas • DE Dee Ford

• DE Nick Bosa • CB Richard Sherman

• S Jaquiski Tartt

Other key players who battled injuries in 2020 include WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

Offensive Needs

On offense, it all starts with who's under center. It’s no secret that the 49ers inquired about QB Tom Brady last year. More recently, they were entertaining the possibility of QB Matt Stafford prior to him being traded to their division rival, the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers were praying for success from QB Nick Mullens, but they got quite the opposite. This team would be on its way to pulling out a win, and then Mullens would throw an untimely interception or fumble the ball. This exact scenario doomed this franchise in multiple games last season. Still, the 49ers managed to blow out the Patriots and defeat the playoff-bound Rams.

With limited success without Garoppolo under center, the 49ers may again look to other QBs as options for the future. If San Francisco opts to get creative, Deshaun Watson could be available for the right price. Sam Darnold is also someone that be obtained for a mid-round draft pick. Whatever way you look at it, the most important question that remains is will Garoppolo be the long-term answer for this franchise? Perhaps the 49ers will indulge in quarterbacks who are familiar with the Shanahan system with large contracts like Matt Ryan or Kirk Cousins. At the very least, if San Francisco chooses to stick with Garoppolo as their starter, they will likely bring in a new backup. QBs CJ Beathard and Nick Mullens are set to become free agents.

RB Raheem Mostert is a free agent. This franchise has shown that it doesn't matter who the running back is, the coaching capabilities of this staff can scheme success with any running back. Late in the season, superstar RB Jeff Wilson Jr. had several opportunities to showcase his skillset. When Wilson was healthy, he was able to put up impressive numbers. In games against the Patriots and the Cardinals, he racked up over 100 yards as well as multiple touchdowns. Given Wilson Jr.'s performance, it's very possible that the 49ers will let Mostert walk in free agency. It's rare to talk about fullbacks in the NFL, but Kyle Juszczyk is special. He is another back that is set for free agency, but San Francisco has already come out publicly and said signing Juszczyk is a priority. The franchise will save some cap space by letting high-paid veterans like RBs Jerick McKinnon and Tevin Coleman walk in free agency.

The 49ers have several young talented wide receivers in this system. The scheme that Shanahan runs is remarkably effective, so much so that anyone can get the job done. Last year, it seemed when one receiver was healthy, the other wasn’t. Surely the dual-threat of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk appeared on the field together for only six games. While Samuel’s absence had some sort of positive impact on Aiyuk, at least in terms of getting a larger percentage of looks, HC Kyle Shanahan would definitely prefer to have both players available at the same time. With only $13.1M in available cap space, it’ll be challenging for San Francisco to use free agency as a means to either re-sign or go after some of the mid-to-upper echelon players on the open market. Complicating the matter is the fact No. 3 WR Kendrick Bourne, who set career-highs in receptions (49) and receiving yards (667) last year, is an unrestricted free agent. They’re almost assuredly going to move on from slot WR Trent Taylor, who had just 10 catches for 86 yards last season and ended up being a healthy scratch for a bulk of the games late in the year. Injuries thwarted what looked to be a promising career for the 2017 fifth-round draft pick, and currently, San Francisco isn’t exactly in a position where it can invest in oft-injured players. This also puts into question the role that WR Jalen Hurd, a third-round pick from 2019, will have this season after tearing his ACL.

George Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the game, and a must-play in DFS when available. TE Jordan Reed is also set for free agency but is likely to be brought back on a team-friendly deal.

On the offensive line, OT Trent Williams is a free agent and a key component to any success in the passing and running game. Overall, the offensive line was fine, but depth can be something the team addresses this offseason.

Defensive Needs

San Francisco has proven to be pretty sound on defense. They were a very difficult team to run on. When healthy, they also have elite pass rushers. Two key free agents to monitor are CB Richard Sherman and S Jaquiski Tartt. Sherman has already been heard saying he expects both parties to go in different directions. The 49ers have not drafted a corner since the 2000 NFL draft and now might be the time to do it again. This team's top seven corners (in terms of 2020 snaps) are all free agents: Jason Verrett (803), Emmanuel Moseley (409), Ahkello Witherspoon (334), Richard Sherman (332), K'Wuan Williams (284), Dontae Johnson (273), Jamar Taylor (203). It’s fair to say this may be one of the team's biggest needs.

If S Jaquiski Tart walks in free agency, the team will have big shoes fill at safety. This is especially important because this defense has been one of the best units in the league against tight ends throughout Tartt's tenure. DE Nick Bosa is top-3 talent on the defensive line, and it's likely he will get a massive contract in the near future.

Too Long Didn't Read Version

San Francisco is strapped for cash and has a middle-of-the-pack draft pick. There are ways for them to collect more draft capital, and one of those options includes seriously considering trading QB Jimmy Garoppolo. It has already been rumored that Garoppolo is the New England Patriots' plan for the quarterback position. The Patriots have more than $66M in cap space, which means they are more than capable of getting their presumed No. 1 choice. The Patriots would inherit his $24.1M base salary and $1.4M in bonuses, and still have about $40.5M to operate.

Downside: Garoppolo has started 52% of possible games in the past three seasons (25 of 48) because of two separate injuries: a torn ACL and a high ankle sprain. Despite having the third-shortest pass length, he has the third-highest interception rate over the past two seasons (including playoffs).

Upside: Simply put, even with his interceptions, the team wins with Garoppolo. Since 2017, the 49ers are 22-8 (.733) when Garoppolo starts and 7-27 (.206) when anyone else starts over that span.

Trading Garoppolo is surely an intriguing proposition. He is the 13th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. If the 49ers were to trade Garoppolo, he would leave just $2.8M in dead money. Assuming the franchise sticks with Garoppolo, expect “luck” and success to swing back in the direction of the 49ers. Of course, it will ultimately boil down to what the team sees in Garoppolo, and what they can potentially get for him.