The San Francisco 49ers will have an abundance of cap space to manipulate in 2016. While some players remain from the last regime, new players are on their way in. There are numerous lesser-known free agents that the 49ers should target for next season.
New San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has given his introductory press conference and the dust of the hire has settled. We are now into the time of year when the front office looks at draft boards and free agent charts to determine who to target in April and beyond to build the best roster moving forward.
The current front office doesn’t get involved in bidding wars for players. They typically set a price on any given player and hold firm. The shrewd tactic has proven useful in routinely balancing the salary cap of the team.
This year, however, the 49ers are expected to have over $53 million in cap space per OverTheCap.com and can use that money to target the high-priced free agents that they usually avoid.
While players like Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and the New York Jets defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson will be available, the 49ers could put their money to better use by targeting slightly lesser-known free agents to build a more complete team.
As teams look to sign free agents, it’s important to balance the impact of a player against the cost of bringing them in. General manager Trent Baalke and his team may benefit from signing one of the available star players but there is always a fair amount of risk involved.
One player’s impressive success in their current scheme does not guarantee success in another.
Signing big-name players is certainly the type of sexy move that will gain Baalke popularity among fans again.
However, if doing the best possible job to ensure that this team competes in the playoffs sooner rather than later is his task, here are five under-the-radar players that the 49ers should target for 2016.
Next: A Rival Receiver
Jermaine Kearse-Wide Receiver
Jermaine Kearse has played for the Seattle Seahawks since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2012. While many 49ers fans won’t like the idea of adding a Seahawk to the roster, Kearse could be an intriguing option to add depth to the receiver group.
Kearse won’t ever be the number one receiver for a team, but if the 49ers choose to use their first pick in the draft on a playmaker, they can target lesser receivers to round out a quality group. Kearse is built similarly to the 49ers current receiver Anquan Boldin, both players are listed at 6’1” with Boldin being slightly heavier.
In addition to their frames, the two men are alike in their skills as receivers. Neither player is going to explode of the line as a downfield burner, but they run precise routes and excel in making catches in tough positions. While Kearse hasn’t enjoyed the long-term success that Boldin has, he has competed on the Seahawks throughout their recent success and brings championship experience to a wide receiver group that could be lacking without Boldin’s leadership.
Pairing Kearse with Torrey Smith as the leaders of the group could solidify the position for younger players like recently-drafted 49er DeAndre Smelter. Kearse would come to the team likely as the third or fourth receiving option and won’t command big money.
Kearse was earning an average yearly salary of roughly $2.3 million before his upcoming free agency. Baalke could sign Kearse for slightly more than that amount and solidify his receiving core for 2016.
Next: Redzone Threat Tight End
Ladarius Green-Tight End
The 49ers tight end group seemed stacked at the beginning of last season. After a few departures, that group looks largely unproven as the 49ers move into 2016. Vance McDonald may or may not return next season and fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of recent draft picks Blake Bell and Rory “Busta” Anderson.
The 49ers can add to the competition by signing San Diego Chargers free agent tight end Ladarius Green. The Chargers are likely to be involved in the bidding for Green as they look to secure him as Antonio Gates’ replacement once the impressive tight end retires. The 49ers don’t often like to compete with other teams in a back and forth, but a willingness to pay for Green’s services could improve this offense immensely.
Green stands at 6’6” and is an athletic 240 pounds. Gates was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season and Green filled in admirably. In the first week of the season, he totaled five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions. Green ended the year fading out as Gates was the primary tight end for the team.
The 49ers have continually shown an inability to score in the red zone for multiple seasons in a row. With a roster larger unchanged, they need to find someone that creates matchup problems in tight spaces. Green’s height and athleticism could immediately bring that to the team and can force a competition among the tight ends for the starting spot.
Head coach Chip Kelly utilized multiple tight ends in Philadelphia with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz, and it’s reasonable to assume he’ll bring a similar system to San Francisco. Pairing Green with Bell and Anderson could give the 49ers three athletic tight ends to build their offense around in 2016.
Next: Veteran Offensive Lineman
Ramon Foster-Offensive Guard
There’s no doubt that the 49ers need a ton of help along the offensive line. The 49ers already have some reinforcements on the way but will need to find others.
Anthony Davis may have guaranteed his comeback but there is no guarantee that guard Alex Boone will be staying, as he is set to hit free agency as well.
As Davis returns, he will be met with competition at the starting right tackle spot from Trent Brown. Brown played at the end of the season and showed promise moving forward as a massive man on the edge for San Francisco.
Fans are counting on 49ers guard Andrew Tiller to continue his success after stepping in for flailing Jordan Devey. Despite the emergence of Tiller and Brown, and the return of Davis, the 49ers will need to build quality depth along their offensive line.
Players like Marcus Martin and Brandon Thomas have been given opportunities and have failed to prove that they are worthy of a roster spot for much longer.
Ramon Foster started all 16 games this season at left guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers and could be an ideal signing for general manager Trent Baalke to make this offseason. Foster is big at 6’5” and 328 pounds and provides a veteran presence along the line that could support the development of young players like Tiller and Brown.
Foster has enjoyed success in Pittsburgh but routinely has his name come up as one that ought to be replaced despite continual success. Foster is 30 years old and will likely be signing one of the last contracts he signs as a professional football player. He may be looking to squeeze every bit of money out of it. The 49ers should give Foster’s agent a call and see if he’d like to come to sunny Santa Clara.
Next: Inside Help
Rolando McClain-Inside Linebacker
Rolando McClain was an impressive player coming out of Alabama in the 2010 NFL Draft. The Oakland Raiders selected the inside linebacker with the eighth overall pick. At the time, it seemed like the Raiders may be looking to imitate the success of 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
McClain has seen his career in the NFL go much differently than expected with plenty of distractions off of the field that have impeded any progress he has made on it.
Now, after playing with the Dallas Cowboys last season, it appears as though McClain may finally be on the right track. He will likely never be a player that stays with any team for too long and the risk involved with retaining him surely gives front office employees a slight headache.
He is, however, an impressive player when committed to his craft as an NFL linebacker. McClain is still only 26 years old despite playing five seasons in the NFL and sitting out another to get his life situated. He finished 2015 with 80 combined tackles in only 11 games with one interception.
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The 49ers have NaVorro Bowman who, despite coming back from a gruesome injury, still managed to have an incredible year that ended with an All-Pro selection. McClain could come to the 49ers as a cheap option to pair with Bowman and reinforce the 49ers front seven.
The 49ers currently have linebackers Michael Wilhoite and Gerald Hodges but neither exactly seized the opportunity last year. Both remain under contract with the team and could be excellent backups to the starters. Hodges will develop in time but may need another year or two before being ready to play every down.
McClain would be an excellent option for Baalke to pick up and plug in for a year or so while Hodges continues his development.
Next: Replacing Dawson
Justin Tucker-Kicker
Signing a free agent kicker won’t make fans scream out in joy. But Phil Dawson is a free agent and is over 40 years old. It’s unreasonable to expect him to play much longer, and the 49ers shouldn’t pay the roughly $3 million that Dawson is currently earning.
They should, however, pay that money to Justin Tucker. Tucker has played four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and is set to become a free agent. The 49ers will have to spend big for a kicker but Tucker is worth every penny.
He is automatic from 40 yards in and missed only one field goal between 40-49 yards this season. The opposing team rarely has any chance to return the ball as Tucker had touchbacks on all but nine of his kickoffs this season. He is about as polished and routine as a kicker gets in the NFL, including never missing a PAT in his career.
Tucker has said that he would like to remain in Baltimore but the 49ers should be willing to spend big to bring him to San Francisco. It isn’t the type of move that fans crave but, with how often this team kicks field goals, it’s a prudent move to secure one of the best kickers in the league moving forward.
Not to mention, the guy is one hell of a singer and could spend some time at the SF Opera House during the offseason.
The 49ers will have money to spend this offseason as they put together a roster to compete in a loaded NFC West. Whether they take directly from division rivals or draw from other team’s wells, they need to explore all options in signing the players to be successful.
Head coach Chip Kelly will certainly have his list of players that he would like to see the team sign but general manager Trent Baalke should investigate under-the-radar free agents as well. In rebuilding the depth of the 49ers, there are bargain options that could immediately pay dividends.
With money in the bank, the 49ers should be big spenders moving into next season. Although there are big-name free agents available, Baalke and his team could get tremendous value if they look just a little below the surface.
Next: 5 Players That Will Benefit Under Chip Kelly
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN Statistics unless otherwise indicated. All salary information courtesy of OverTheCap.com unless otherwise indicated.