San Francisco 49ers: 5 Easy Steps to Help Fix the Franchise in 2016
By Peter Panacy
Focus on the Defense in the 2016 NFL Draft
The 49ers will probably be in a bit of a conundrum should they part ways with quarterback Colin Kaepernick this offseason — they’ll be in one anyway — with regards to who starts under center in 2016.
It’s reasonable to assume general manager Trent Baalke targets a quarterback in Round 1 of the NFL draft. It’s what Dane Brugler, Rob Rang, Will Brinson and Pete Prisco of CBS Sports all mock the 49ers to do.
Even if the 49ers go this route in Round 1 with the seventh overall pick, Baalke’s efforts should focus more on the defensive side of the ball rather than upgrading the offense.
“But why,” one might ask. “San Francisco had the worst offense in the league last year.”
True statement. The 49ers lack playmakers, have questions at quarterback and don’t exactly boast the strongest offensive line.
Yet, if anything, the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos showed the NFL world how a league can be dominated by a great defense. The 49ers have some promising pieces on this side of the ball. Guys like linebacker Aaron Lynch, defensive end Arik Armstead, safety Jaquiski Tartt and defensive tackle Quinton Dial are still young and developing.
And no one will overlook the prowess of veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
Still, there needs to be some supplementary pieces here. Fortunately, this year’s draft class is loaded with talent at both the inside and outside linebacker positions as well as the defensive line.
So maybe the 49ers, even if they do go quarterback first overall, shift their attention to such positions in subsequent rounds in an attempt to bolster the defense — a necessity given head coach Chip Kelly’s style of offense.
And it isn’t as if defenses in the NFC West are getting any weaker anytime soon.
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