Niner Noise
FanSided

2016 NFL Draft: Breaking Down San Francisco 49ers’ Biggest Needs

By Peter Panacy

Jan 15, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers manager Trent Baalke poses for a photo in the locker room after a press conference for the introduction of Jim Tomsula (not pictured) as the head coach at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers manager Trent Baalke poses for a photo in the locker room after a press conference for the introduction of Jim Tomsula (not pictured) as the head coach at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 9
Next
Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (7) and Blaine Gabbert (2) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (7) and Blaine Gabbert (2) on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 43-18. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback

This one is a bit tricky. And how the 49ers approach the quarterback situation will depend almost entirely upon what the team elects to do with former starting signal-caller Colin Kaepernick.

Will Kaepernick be released as his team-friendly contract allows? Or will he be sent off to a team like the New York Jets as recent rumors and buzz have pointed to?

San Francisco is in control here. But that doesn’t mean the team is locked into Kap’s services. It’s feasible the 49ers might prefer fellow QB Blaine Gabbert.

What general manager Trent Baalke’s preference here will be shall be determined in the draft. Should the Niners grab a quarterback early — such as Cal’s Jared Goff or Memphis’ Paxton Lynch — the 49ers’ intentions will be clear. They’ll want a new franchise quarterback to eventually take over that starting role.

Or the 49ers could wait a while and target a QB like Oregon’s Vernon Adams. That’s a plausible approach as well.

But for now, the quarterback position remains a priority given just how uncertain the future is under center.

Next: Offensive Line