Offseason needs thru draft or free agency

Potential Losses

Arik Armstead
Jimmy Ward
Emanuel Sanders

Positions needing upgrades
IOL, CB, OT, WR

Positions we can ignore
DL, QB, TE, RB, LB

DL-keep Buckner and Armstead, depth returns from injury. Our strongest position group. Blair, Moore, Jones return from injury

QB-Well Jimmy isn't Mahomes. But he's our guy. I don't see any changes here

TE- Kittle is our offensive MVP and his life will be easier with overall offensive diversification. Deebo emerged, Bourne got dependable. Hurd, Taylor will be welcome additions. Sanders returning is 50/50 to me.

RB- Mostert, Coleman, Breida, Wilson, McKinnon
I'd guess we release McKinnon but either way I don't see anyone new arriving

LB-Kwon, Warner, Greenlaw, and all our depth pieces return here.

Most likely positions we draft at 31 or address in trade down include CB, WR, OL, FS

DJ Jones and Ron Blair << we should resign if there's any chance of losing them. If we lose Armstead, though he plays all over the line, I think we need to draft Julian Okwara, DE, from Notre Dame if he's available. No idea how Ford's season's going to go. We need pass rush consistency and Okwara coming off the bench in key passing situations would be a wet dream. Imagine he and Ford on the edge with Bosa and Buck in the middle.

Otherwise, unless we trade down, maybe we draft WR Tee Higgins (6'4, 215) from Clemson. Dude is a beast, can play all over. He can be our sideline threat.

If we have any weakness, it is at the guard and center positions. Garoppolo got hit far too many times this season. I am, frankly, surprised his knee held up as long as it did.

Originally posted by davidboutte:

Potential Losses

DL-keep Buckner and Armstead.

If you only had the money to keep one, which one would you choose?

Just a question. Nothing more. I don't know enough about the cap or 49er finances to make any predictions.

But in a hypothetical situation where you only get to pick one, which one do you choose?

There's no guarantee that Staley doesn't retire.

CB and IOL are the biggest needs by far. drafting anything else will be a waste because the player will struggle to even get on the field cause of our depth.

Originally posted by AZ9erfan520:
There's no guarantee that Staley doesn't retire.

He just signed an extension before this season. I understand getting to the SB and losing is a total kick to the junk but walking away from a talented team and a possible chance to get back there and finally get it done would seem like an overreaction but we've seen guys retire for a lot of crazy reasons lately.

Originally posted by AZ9erfan520:
There's no guarantee that Staley doesn't retire.

Other than the fact he said he planned on playing the rest of his contract multiple times.

Why do we need to draft a WR? We don't have a full set of picks. We have Deebo, Bourne, Hurd, and Taylor coming back next year, probably Sanders and maybe Pettis. We spent 2 second round picks and one third rounder on WRs in just the last two drafts; that's 3 high picks in two years!

Our big needs are OL and CB. Why not draft only those two positions and hope to land two starters at positions of dire need?

We need better weapons for Jimmy at the WR position - we can't go with Sanders as our #1 again.

Originally posted by mayo49:

We need better weapons for Jimmy at the WR position - we can't go with Sanders as our #1 again.

They need more weapons sure but a #1 isn't needed. Just have multiple playmakers and throw to the open guy.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by mayo49:
We need better weapons for Jimmy at the WR position - we can't go with Sanders as our #1 again.

They need more weapons sure but a #1 isn't needed. Just have multiple playmakers and throw to the open guy.

I disagree - we already have enough complimentary guys. We need a stud at #1 to compliment Deebo.

Originally posted by mayo49:

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by mayo49:

We need better weapons for Jimmy at the WR position - we can't go with Sanders as our #1 again.

They need more weapons sure but a #1 isn't needed. Just have multiple playmakers and throw to the open guy.

I disagree - we already have enough complimentary guys. We need a stud at #1 to compliment Deebo.

Yep we need someone with serious speed that the defense fears.

DB(CB and/or S) and IOL are the top priorities.

Originally posted by Heroism:
DB(CB and/or S) and IOL are the top priorities.

I think we're fine at DB - IOL is a concern, but not a extreme priority.