Ranking the San Francisco 49ers' most significant team needs going into a critical offseason
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best rosters in the NFL. That much was made clear during their run to the Super Bowl 58, which they lost in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs. But the Niners, who are up against the cap, have a challenge to ensure they have the depth to […]
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best rosters in the NFL.
That much was made clear during their run to the Super Bowl 58, which they lost in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the Niners, who are up against the cap, have a challenge to ensure they have the depth to continue to contend in the coming years, while the Super Bowl underscored the need to address some glaring holes on their star-studded team.
So, going into the offseason, what are the biggest needs for the Niners. Here, I ranked the Top 10 biggest issues for the team that is the very early favorite to win Super Bowl 59.
Ranking the San Francisco 49ers' most significant offseason needs
1. Offensive Tackle
The 49ers got largely dependable play out of Colton McKivitz in his first season as a starter at right tackle, but it’s clear they could afford to upgrade significantly on him and set themselves up well for the future in the trenches.
McKivitz, much like his predecessor Mike McGlinchey is very vulnerable to the bull rush and the right side of the O-Line was one that was attacked continually with success both in the regular season and postseason. In a year where the draft is strong at tackle, the Niners would be wise to make it their first pick.
2. Edge depth
Chase Young, Randy Gregory and Clelin Ferrell are all bound for free agency. A late-season knee injury to the latter might allow the Niners to bring Ferrell back, but even then the options at edge beyond Nick Bosa would be thin.
It’s a good draft class at edge and there are potential options in free agency. After their short-term swings on Young and Gregory, the Niners need more long-term answers to build their depth chart at outside pass rusher.
3. Interior Offensive Line
The top need in the eyes of many, the 49ers are set at left guard and center. It’s the right side of the interior offensive line that is the problem.
Jon Feliciano is a free agent, and his injury had a huge impact on the 49ers’ Super Bowl defeat, with Spencer Burford, a fourth-rounder in 2022, committing protection errors that ultimately proved costly.
The 49ers have not used a first-round pick on a guard in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era. Many would argue now is the time, but it seems more likely it will be a priority either in free agency or day two of the draft.
4. Slot Cornerback
So the 49ers technically have a plan they know can get them by in the regular season at slot corner, with Deommodore Lenoir kicking inside on nickel downs.
However, that is a move predicated on Ambry Thomas holding up as the starting outside corner on those downs.
He often did so in the second half of the regular season, but was picked on in the playoffs, leading to him being benched for Super Bowl 58 and Logan Ryan playing as the full-time slot.
The Niners’ patience with Thomas may be wearing thin, and Lenoir has developed into an impressive outside corner. As such, a starting slot on whom they can rely is likely to be something the 49ers try to target in free agency or potentially even the first round of the draft. Extra depth at outside corner wouldn't be the worst idea either.
5. Interior Defensive Line depth
Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave are an excellent starting defensive tackle duo, but both played through injuries in the postseason, with Armstead battling a torn meniscus that required post-Super Bowl surgery.
Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens and Sebastian Joseph-Day are all slated to hit free agency. The Niners may be able to bring some of those players back on relatively affordable deals, however, with Armstead facing a long recovery, there’s an obvious need for new blood on the interior of the D-Line.
6. Linebacker
Speaking of long recoveries, the 49ers have another key starter facing one in the form of linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who incredibly tore his Achilles running onto the field after a punt during the Super Bowl.
It remains to be seen when he’ll be ready to return and, with Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles both free agents, there’s the potential the 49ers could be down to All-Pro Fred Warner and 2023 late-round picks Dee Winters and Jalen Graham.
At a position that has long since been a strength, the Niners may need to bring in some insurance.
7. Special Teams
The 49ers’ special teams was dreadful for most of the season, ranking 25th in DVOA.
Then of course there was the, albeit very unfortunate, muffed punt in the Super Bowl, which also saw a blocked Jake Moody extra point.
Return man Ray-Ray McCloud is a free agent, and the 49ers clearly need players who can drastically improve their performance in the third facet of the game.
8. Wide Receiver speed
The 49ers had issues beating the Chiefs’ man coverage in the Super Bowl.
While Brandon Aiyuk is one of the best route-runners in football and Deebo Samuel is extremely explosive after the catch, the 49ers have long since lacked a true speed option with the ability to punish over aggressive coverage with massive plays downfield.
Even without such a player, the 49ers still led the NFL in explosive pass plays, so to think what they could do with a true burner in the mix is extremely enticing.
The 49ers don’t *need* to draft a wideout. If they do, it should be a pass-catcher who can provide game-changing speed from the third receiver spot.
9. Backup Quarterback
The 49ers undoubtedly have their answer at quarterback in Brock Purdy, who capped an outstanding first season as the starter with an admirable Super Bowl performance.
But Sam Darnold and Brandon Allen are both free agents, meaning the Niners don’t have a backup under contract for 2024.
Maybe one of Darnold or Allen will be back, but in a quarterback draft class filled with experienced prospects likely to be available on day two and three, the 49ers would be wise to use one of their 11 picks on a young backup quarterback they can develop behind Purdy.
10. Safety depth
The 49ers will get Talanoa Hufanga back from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 11, and he will likely pair with last year’s third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown as the starting safety combination.
Brown impressed in replacing the injured Hufanga and had a pick in the Super Bowl.
The question is whether veteran Tashaun Gipson will return for another year after being swayed out of retirement last season.
The prospect of not being a starter might make that prospect less likely. If Gipson does not return, the 49ers will need another backup at safety along with core special teamer George Odum.
The 49ers' roster does not have many clear weaknesses, but the ones they do have were clearly exploited in the Super Bowl, making it high time San Francisco made a concerted effort to fix them as the Niners aim to get back to the biggest stage next season.
