Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers’ To-Do List in the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; A general view of San Francisco 49ers flags during a NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; A general view of San Francisco 49ers flags during a NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers made a number of offensive signings in NFL free agency. Now comes the challenge of reinforcing the defense via the 2017 NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch was heavily active at the opening of NFL free agency and brought in a number of offensive players, many of whom have familiarity with head coach Kyle Shanahan’s system.

But free agency provided only three noteworthy, starting-caliber additions — cornerback K’Waun Williams, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and linebacker Malcolm Smith.

That’s OK. The Niners have the 2017 NFL Draft to worry about the rest.

And they’ll have to. Remember, the Niners boasted the league’s worst defense in 2016 and lacked enough cornerstone players to truly make a difference.

A scheme change under new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will help. The 49ers will shift to a 4-3 under this season, and the base defense is expected to be notably easier than the complex read-and-react 3-4 base seen under former defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil a year ago.

Yet San Francisco needs players for this to happen.

A lot of them.

So let’s take a look at Lynch’s to-do list as the draft approaches late April.