This 49ers team is in a state of flux they haven’t seen in a long time. Their offseason started with releasing head coach Jim Harbaugh and eventually completely gutting their entire coaching staff outside of defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, who has now officially been promoted to head coach, and running backs coach Tom Rathman. Besides replacing their entire coaching staff, they have a lot of changes that need to be made this offseason.
The first one is deciding whether or not they want to switch to a 4-3 defensive front from their current 3-4. It wouldn’t matter too much for this team anyway, the biggest difference being that it would allow them to get linebackers NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, and Chris Borland all on the field at the same time while they were in their base package. However, if they decide to stay in a 3-4, look for the possibility of the 49ers getting rid of Willis. As of right now his cap number is just over $8 million, but if they cut him they will only take a cap hit of $843,500 in dead money. I don’t think it’s very likely but it’s certainly a possibility.
Their biggest need is, without a doubt, a playmaking wide receiver. Michael Crabtree is set to become a free agent and I can’t imagine the 49ers bring him back. He will likely want the kind of money that typically goes to a top wide receiver and I don’t see the 49ers giving him that kind of money. Even if they did re-sign Crabtree, they would still need a playmaking wide receiver because Crabtree is absolutely not that. He has solid hands (besides this past season) and is good after the catch, but he can’t take the top off a defense and that’s what the 49ers are looking for. With the 15th overall pick they’ll be able to take a wide receiver like Jaelen Strong, Kevin White, Sammie Coates, or DeVante Parker. Any one of these would be a vast improvement.
Another need is on the defensive line. However, this need is contingent upon a few other factors. The first factor is whether or not Justin Smith decides to retire. Even if Smith sticks around for another year they will most likely need to draft someone they can start preparing to enter the rotation once Smith decides to actually call it quits. Smith’s retirement will basically determine how much of a priority it will be to bring in a replacement. The other determining factor is whether or not they switch to a 4-3 or not. If they do they will need to draft a different kind of lineman. Someone they could certainly draft in the second or third round who has the skill set to play either a 5-tech or a 3-tech is Owamagbe Odighizuwa from UCLA.
Their last need is at cornerback. They have Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox set to become free agents but were extremely valuable pieces to their defense this past season. The only way both of these players don’t come back is if they think they can get a much bigger contract elsewhere. If one or both decide to test the market the 49ers will absolutely address this need via free agency and the draft. If both decide to stay, they’ll most likely draft another cornerback but not until the mid-late rounds, especially because under Tomsula this defense will most likely blitz a lot more than they did under previous defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The 49ers have some depth at the cornerback position already (Tramaine Brock, Culliver, Cox, Dontae Johnson, Jimmie Ward, Chris Cook, Keith Reaser, and Kenneth Acker). Some quality cornerbacks they will be able to land in the mid-late rounds are Quinten Rollins and Ladarius Gunter.
A lot of people have been talking about how much their offensive line is going to change this offseason. I don’t think it will change much at all though. Their returning starters from last season will most likely be Joe Staley at left tackle, Anthony Davis at right tackle, Alex Boone at right guard, and Daniel Kilgore likely back at center. Mike Iupati will most likely be gone this offseason because the 49ers can’t spend the kind of money Iupati deserves on another offensive lineman. To take his place they could move Marcus Martin over to guard. They could also put Joe Looney into the starting role but Martin is much more talented and Looney is better served in a backup role at this point. They also have Brandon Thomas for depth, who they drafted last year but missed this entire season due to an injury he suffered late in his college career. If healthy, Thomas would’ve been one of the top linemen in his draft.
The 49ers have a lot going on this offseason and the chaos has only just begun for them. They have to hire basically an entire coaching staff, get everyone on the same page, and be ready for team activities to start April 6th. That is no small task. They will also have more turnover than they’re used to on their roster. It’s going to be a true test of General Manager Trent Baalke and new head coach Jim Tomsula.