San Francisco 49ers: 2016 Free Agency Preview

NFL free agency is slated to start on March 9. With a ton of cap space, what actions will the San Francisco 49ers take this offseason?

The next stage of the 49ers’ rebuilding process begins on Wednesday with the start of what is the most important free agency period of general manager Trent Baalke’s career.

With the 49ers coming off a 5-11 season and last year’s free agency class failing spectacularly, Baalke is under huge pressure to hit on most if not all of his signings and help put together a roster capable of getting back to winning ways under Chip Kelly.

Baalke has over $62million in cap space to spend and restock the 49ers’ roster – per Over The Cap – and is helped by the fact the Niners have few free agents who are likely to command big money to keep around.

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The top free agent the 49ers should be looking to tie down is nose tackle Ian Williams. Indeed, it is a surprise San Francisco has not already moved to re-sign Williams after a stellar season in which he was arguably San Francisco’s player on both sides of the ball.

San Francisco has made a habit of refusing to overpay to keep their own free agents in years gone by. It remains to be seen whether Baalke will change tack on this occasion to retain Williams – particularly with this year’s draft class having much strength in depth in terms of defensive line prospects – but Baalke’s history of reticence to give players with expiring contracts big money should spell the end of guard Alex Boone’s time with the team.

Boone has been a solid guard for some time but, because of the likely return of tackle Anthony Davis and the emergence of Trenton Brown and Andrew Tiller, the 49ers will probably be reluctant to offer him enough money to extend his stay with San Francisco.

Kicker Phil Dawson’s reliability should see him stay with the Niners but Anquan Boldin’s career with San Francisco could also be coming to a close after NFL Network’s Rand Getlin reported the veteran wide receiver is keen to play for a team who can compete at the highest level.

If the 49ers are willing to give the likes of Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, DeAndre Smelter and DeAndrew White the chance to shine, then they may not see Boldin’s departure as much of an issue.

But, as Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee points out, history suggests San Francisco may look to add to its receiving corps and the offense as a whole via free agency and build the defense through the draft.

Should that prove to be the case and, if the Niners are willing to spend big, then Baltimore Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele figures to be a target.

Osemele enjoyed a fine season in 2015, ending a campaign in which he allowed just one sack and two quarterback hurries as Pro Football Focus’ No. 13 guard, and should be will be looking for a big payday as a result.

An upgrade on Boone who can also operate at tackle, the 49ers would be wise to consider paying Osemele handsomely to bolster their strength in the trenches. Geoff Schwartz, whose career has been blighted by injuries, would represent a cheaper alternative following his release from the New York Giants while brother Mitchell Schwartz would provide an immediate starter at right tackle and allow Davis to kick inside.

A potential move for Cincinnati Bengals wideout Marvin Jones, who is the best receiver remaining in the free agent class, makes sense from a point of view of giving the 49ers a viable secondary option alongside Torrey Smith if Boldin does not return. Jones put up 816 receiving yards and scored four touchdowns in 2015 as he enjoyed a nice bounce-back year after missing all of 2014.

Travis Benjamin also figures to receive plenty of attention following his best season in the league with the Cleveland Browns, while the likes of Brandon LaFell, Rueben Randle and Percy Harvin can have success if used correctly.

Although the 49ers signed Garrett Celek to a contract extension, it is clear they lack a difference maker at tight end. There isn’t much in the way of talent at the position in the draft class but there are some intriguing options in free agency such as Ladarius Green.

Green has failed to break out from under the shadow of Antonio Gates with the San Diego Chargers but could fill the void left by Vernon Davis as an athletic pass-catcher who can be a threat on deep routes and in the red zone after putting up 429 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2015.

There are many issues to be addressed on the defensive side of the ball, perhaps the most pressing of which is the lack of a consistent pass rush. San Francisco had just 28 sacks last campaign, ending the year at No. 27 in the league in that category, but the Niners can immediately improve their ability to get to the quarterback by adding a player from inside the NFC West.

Bruce Irvin is on the market after 22 sacks in four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, although the Niners – per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media – will have competition from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals should they choose to enter the race for his services.

The 49ers could also be well served by adding a high-quality inside linebacker to take some of the strain off NaVorro Bowman who, in spite of his impressive comeback from a devastating knee injury, is not the same player he was back in 2013 when he was the best linebacker in the game.

Danny Trevathan would be a good fit for the Niners having excelled for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in a superb 3-4 defense. Trevathan ended the year with 109 tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, finishing the term as PFF’s No. 6 inside linebacker.

On the back end the Niners have some good young players such as Kenneth Acker, Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson and Jaquiski Tartt but could benefit from the infusion of more experience at the corner position, which is why it is no surprise to see CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reporting the 49ers have had discussions regarding Kansas City Chiefs corner Sean Smith.

At 6’3″ and 218 pounds, Smith would bring height and length to the 49ers’ secondary and has also shown himself to have good ball skills, racking up 46 pass deflections and five interceptions in his time in Kansas City.

Smith would instantly upgrade the 49ers’ secondary but whether San Francisco is able to land any of the better free agents depends purely on Baalke and his willingness to spend.

Baalke has not been a fan of spending big in recent times but, if the Niners are to have a roster capable of competing in 2016, that must change in this free agency period.

Next: Is Robert Griffin III a Real Option for the San Francisco 49ers?