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NFL Free Agency: 2016 Primer for San Francisco 49ers

By Jerod Brown

Jan 15, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke during a press conference to introduce Jim Tomsula as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke during a press conference to introduce Jim Tomsula as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; General view of Super Bowl LI logo and Lombardi Trophy during press conference at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; General view of Super Bowl LI logo and Lombardi Trophy during press conference at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Super Bowl 50 is in the books and the offseason has officially begun. The 49ers are as capable as any team of rebuilding their roster for success. Of course, free agency begins that rebuild. Here’s an in-depth primer for the 49ers approach to free agency.

NFL free agency is the most exciting time of the year. For some, it is the least exciting time of the year. Watching your favorite players choose to join another team isn’t easy. Fans get attached to stars of their favorite teams and then find themselves watching as they sign on the dotted-line to play elsewhere the following year.

The NFL shelf life is relatively short, and players deserve to sign for as much money as possible to support themselves far after football. Unfortunately, that means that our cherished teams represent a never-ending carousel of personnel as the needs change.

The San Francisco 49ers enter 2016 in a position that they haven’t recently held. With tons of cap space, more picks in the NFL draft than most teams and leaders on the team headed for free agency, the 49ers must analyze the needs of the team and target the appropriate players to usher in new head coach Chip Kelly’s first season at Levi’s Stadium.

General manager Trent Baalke is tasked with finding the right balance between the value of free agents relative to the price tags associated with those players. While he begins to assess other players, none may be more important than the players he has already had an opportunity to see play in the red and gold. Baalke has largely underwhelmed lately and begins the league year firmly on the hot seat.

Whether Baalke and 49ers’ CEO Jed York admit it or not, this team is knee-deep in a rebuild as they repair their image. The free agent class that Baalke lands will give fans a clear indication of the image of the team around the league. If Baalke lands big names, fans can assume that the franchise turmoil is behind the team. Right now, that goodwill is massive for both Baalke and York.

Baalke will have to decide whether to put his eggs in the basket of players he is familiar with or players from outside of the organization. As the 49ers prep for the 2016 NFL Draft and the start of the new league year on March 9, enjoy a primer for the organization’s course of action.

Next: 49ers' Cap Breakdown