Player Retention:
It is important that the following players remain a part of our team, and the moderate to long term plan moving forward:
Levine Toilolo, TE
Ronald Blair, DE
Jeff Wilson Jr, RB
Kendrick Bourne, WR
Emmanuel Moseley, CB
Daniel Brunskill, OL
For the right price, I am happy to keep the following players, at least for the short term:
Shon Coleman, OT
Ben Garland, IOL
Damontre Moore, DL
Matt Breida, RB
Nick Mullens, QB
The biggest importance of this Superbowl window, imo, is to keep the strength of our team as strong as possible, for as long as possible. Shanny and Garappolo, combined with the league's best defense, will always be contenders.
Trades:
This is where it gets interesting. The consensus is that the Colts have three primary needs this offseason; DT, a franchise QB, and a fresh start at WR. TY Hilton is going into his contract year, coming off of injury, on the wrong side of 30. Colts will draft wide receiver Henry Ruggs III with their first round pick and
Trade 1: 49'ers acquire wide receiver TY Hilton, and picks 34 and 44 in the second round of the draft. In exchange, the Colts acquire pick 31 in the 1st round of the 2019 draft (QB incoming), a 2021 5th round draft pick, and breakout defensive lineman Arik Armstead.
Trade 2: 49'ers acquire picks R2P42 and R4P113. Jacksonville acquires pick R2P34. The Jacksonville Jaguars, after losing both star cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye in the same year, look to double dip at CB to not miss a beat. Jacksonville moves up to grab the CB of their choice before the Lions (CB needy team who took BPA in Isaiah Simmons) and the Giants (CB needy team who took BPA in Derrick Brown) have a chance to steal the last remaining of the top tier CBs.
Trade 3: 49ers acquire picks R3P80, R3P81, and R5P159. Raiders acquire pick R2P44. The Oakland Raiders, after solidifying their defense in the first round with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and off-ball linebacker Patrick Queen, still need a WR. Laviska Shenault Jr is still on the board after a lackluster combine and some injury concerns, but has a chance to be a real franchise difference maker, perfect for a team in a new city and a new stadium. With three picks in the third, it makes too much sense for the Raiders to not pass this opportunity.
Trade 4: 49ers acquire pick R3P93 from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive end/ 3-4 outside linebacker, Dee Ford. The Titans pair Dee Ford with Harold Landry. Dee Ford is on a very trade-able contract. We will eat some costs, but will still be a net positive for us in terms of cap space gained. Tennessee has cap room, a need for a pass rusher, and Dee Ford's deal essentially becomes a year to year deal, with no dead cap ramifications, after this year, which means Tennessee can let him go if he can't stay healthy. Not a bad deal to have Dee Ford contribute on our way to the league's best DL and a Superbowl visit to simply move from the second to third round in the draft.
Trade 5: 49ers move a few slots higher in the 4th round, packaging picks R4P113, R7P217 and R7P245 to whichever team accepts.
Trade 6: 49ers move back into the 4th round by sending some lucky team picks R5156 and R5P176
Trade 7: Belichick does what he does. Patriots acquire 49er legend Solomon Thomas. 49ers acquire pick R6P205.
Trade 8: 49ers move back into the 5th round by packaging newly acquired R6P205 with speedy wide out Marquise Goodwin.
Trade 9: Tevin Coleman is traded for a 6th round pick.
Free Agency:
FA comes first, but I wanted to first create some precedent for why I am proposing the moves that I am.
Robert Quinn, DE; 3 years, 31.5 million
I love Robert Quinn. I always have loved Robert Quinn. The Cowboys can't afford Robert Quinn, and current rumors point towards them losing him. If healthy, Quinn is everything you need from a nickel rusher. His price tag is lowered because of his shaky health history and inefficiency versus the run, but our team will need him for one reason only: get to the passer. Cheaper in the life of the contract than Dee Ford, the same amount of injury concern, but a higher ceiling (in my opinion).
Leonard Williams, DL; 2 years, 24 million
Arik Armstead, unfortunately, has priced himself off of the 49ers roster. Despite Williams's public demands, I think he will find that his market is a lot softer than he believes it will or should be, as he simply hasn't lived up to his original draft slotting or potential. William's estimated value is at $8.5 million per year, but Williams allegedly is asking for $15-16 million to stay with the Giants. This is where the 49'ers come in. Williams is still only 25 years old. At the end of this two year deal, he will still be in his prime, and still able to cash in on his one lucrative deal. What better way to boost his stock and value for that deal than to join the 49'ers where, if he is ever going to live up to the promise of his athletic gifts, this is where it will happen surrounded by elite talent. Doesn't hurt that he will also get to experience his first winning season since joining the NFL. Williams offers the same inside and outside versatility that AA did, is a top notch run defender, and still has the athletic upside to be a difference maker rushing the passer. Worst case scenario is he proves to be nothing more than the base end we needed to play Robin to Robert Quinn's Batman. Best case scenario is we have another "how do we keep AA?!?" situation in two years.
Remaining Needs:
IOL: Richburg is great, but injury concerns create the need for a backup plan. Guard is a weakness in pass protection that reared its ugly head in the biggest game, and I am quite certain that it is also limiting our play book.
DB: Sherman won't be able to go much longer, and his next contract will likely be larger than we should be willing to pay. K'wonn Williams is going to be paid as one of the highest paid nickel corners. Ahkello Witherspoon and Mosely have both showed promise (and some worrisome play), but are still largely question marks when it comes to being a CB1. Ward is gone, if not now then soon, and Tart might follow. We know it takes corners time to develop and catch up to the speed of the NFL, and we also know the camaraderie of the DBs room played a large role in how effective they were collectively as a unit. It's time to start drafting viable replacements now, so that we don't have to throw them into any fires. We cannot be relying on the Dontae Johnsons and Marcell Harrisses of the world.
OT: Joe Staley gets his ring in 2020, and then retires. We want to have options behind him, developed, and familiar with the playbook, so that we can have a repeat performance in 2021.
WR: With the addition of TY Hilton, I am not too concerned about the immediate state of our WR room. I have trust that Hurd will come back, and if he does, him, TY, Deebo, and Bourne make a good top 4, with Trent Taylor potentially resuming his role as a guaranteed chain mover as well.
Draft Picks:
R2P42
R3P80
R3P81
R3P93
R4P??
R4P??
R5P159
R5P??
R6P??
R6P210
[ Edited by adrianlesnar on Mar 7, 2020 at 10:54 PM ]
without a lot of holes on the roster, tryna think for the future, and Sherm, Witherspoon, tart, and ward may all be gone
without a lot of holes on the roster, tryna think for the future, and Sherm, Witherspoon, tart, and ward may all be gone