Niner Noise
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5 Possible Replacements for GM Trent Baalke

By Peter Felsch

January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York (left), Chip Kelly (center), and San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke (right) pose for a photo in a press conference after naming Kelly as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York (left), Chip Kelly (center), and San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke (right) pose for a photo in a press conference after naming Kelly as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi /
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What direction will the San Francisco 49ers front office go? Niner Noise takes a look at five possible general manager candidates to replace current GM Trent Baalke.

December 11, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke watches warm ups before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 21-19. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke watches warm ups before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 21-19. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The entire 49ers organization is under scrutiny following its 12th straight defeat. The finger-pointing game is circling around the team, but current general manager Trent Baalke is feeling the most heat.

Baalke has held the position for five years, but the team has seen a steady decline in the last few seasons since former head coach Jim Harbaugh left. It’s been well documented that he and Harbaugh had a rift, and it was up to the Yorks to go in the direction of Baalke instead.

The 49ers only have six wins since Harbaugh departed.

The big debate is whether to let Baalke go and keep head coach Chip Kelly, or let both of them go. It’s hard to coach a team that has been depleted through free agency, retirements and injuries, and a majority of analysts agree Baalke should be let go.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport went on KNBR and said he believes Kelly’s job is safe and Baalke should be the one worried.

“I don’t really see Chip Kelly being in trouble at all,” Rapoport said. “I know the record is not good, but it’s just so interesting to me. I talk to coaches around the league a lot. They’re very honest, often anonymous, and they actually think the Niners are a pretty well coached team.”

Kelly endorsed Baalke in a post-game presser after the 23-17 loss against the New York Jets. When asked his comfort with working with Baalke, Kelly said, “I have tremendous confidence in Trent. So I have not heard anything about that.”

But it’s likely Baalke is let go. And a majority of fans (94 percent, according to a survey by 49ers webzone) want him gone. Before Sunday’s game, a banner was flown behind a plane over Levi’s Stadium that read: “Jed, you reap what you sow — Fire Baalke.” A group of 49ers fans paid for the message.

Baalke won’t be out of work long if he is let go, as sources told CBS Sports that the Denver Broncos could be a possible destination.

Who will accept the daunting task of rebuilding this storied franchise?

Here are some possible candidates to replace him.