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2016 NFL Draft: 5 Burning Questions Facing the San Francisco 49ers

By Peter Panacy

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Aug 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly during a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly during a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Will the Offense or Defense Be the Primary Focus of the 49ers?

The current 49ers roster is in such a shape, that general manager Trent Baalke will have to make numerous efforts to address both sides of the ball.

And there are two ways to look at this need.

Offensively, the Niners lack playmakers. True, San Francisco can hope it gets the most out of third-year running back Carlos Hyde, who hopes to return healthy and thrive within head coach Chip Kelly’s inside-zone scheme. And wide receiver Torrey Smith also figures to be a primary beneficiary within Kelly’s fast-paced, uptempo offense.

Yet the 49ers don’t have too many other bona fide options on this side of the ball. And their offensive line, so permeable in 2015, is in need of upgrades. Even a new head coach, known for bringing sparks to the offense, won’t have an easy time turning an offense around — a unit which finished dead last in the NFL last season with just 238 points scored.

At the same time, the defense may wind up being a higher priority. And there are those who feel general manager Trent Baalke is better at drafting defensive players in comparison to those he’s selected on the offensive side of the ball.

Compounding this thought is the notion of a Kelly-led offense taxing the defense.

Last January, NFL Films senior editor Greg Cosell (h/t CSN Bay Area) told KNBR 680 that, “if you’re gonna be the defensive coordinator for Chip Kelly, you’re going to rank low.”

Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings listed Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles last year at 3.0 percent, which was just below the middle of the pack at No. 17. So this evidence may not totally back up what Cosell states, but it doesn’t suggest an under-equipped Niner defense will be that good either.

So, perhaps, the 49ers will look to restock and reinforce the defensive side of the ball to prepare for an offense which, while lacking talent, may experience a decent upswing from Kelly’s influence.

We won’t know for sure.

Next: How Will Rounds 3 Through 5 Pan Out?