Niner Noise
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5 Moves the 49ers Need to Make this Offseason

By Robert Smith

Nov 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers fans hold signs referencing general manager Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York before the game against the New Orleans Saints.Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers fans hold signs referencing general manager Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York before the game against the New Orleans Saints.Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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49ers Baalke
October 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Fire Trent Baalke

I think this comes as a shock to no one, who pays any amount of attention to the team and it’s current roster.

General manager Trent Baalke has failed to replenish a roster that has seen a major overhaul the past few seasons. In fact, most Niners fans would say that he has failed to solidify a multitude of positions of need that have been glaring weaknesses over the past few years.

Wide receiver and inside linebacker were both considered major needs going into the offseason last year. And yet the draft and free agency saw no real activity.

Not only that, but Baalke also had a tenuous situation at quarterback with the Colin Kaepernick contract drama and an inept Blaine Gabbert as your two options coming into training camp.

With his penchant for drafting ACL-injured players during the middle rounds of the team’s draft (and if you ask most draft pundits, they will tell you this is the area of the draft where most teams find the majority of their roster), he used valuable commodities on players that, for the most part, are no longer in the league.

For a team that trumpeted the idea of building through the draft, it was a complete failure, and the main reason this team’s roster is devoid of high level playmakers on either side of the ball.

It is clearly time for a fresh start. I suspect the team may look to move Tom Gamble into the GM position and pair him with Chip Kelly once again. The two have history going back to the Philadelphia Eagles just a few short seasons ago. And if the coach stays, it may make for a less complicated transition than hiring a GM that may want to choose his own head coach going forward.

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For the sake of rumor and conjecture, let’s say the Niners look outside of the organization for a general manager.

Hot names include VP of Player Personnel Chris Ballard, Patriot’s Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio, Mike Lombardi or former 49er offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan.

Ballard has overseen the remaking of the Chiefs roster from a 4-12 team to a team with a winning record in each of the past two seasons.

Caserio has brought in players who are multi dimensional and fit the system that the Patriots run on both offense and defense.

Lombardi has been a general manager for the Cleveland Browns as well as a special assistant for the New England Patriots.

Mike Shanahan is well known to Niners fans, winning a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator before winning two more as head coach of the Denver Broncos. Rumors are that he would run the team and allow his son, current Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, to coach the team.

Next: An Autopsy of the 2016 San Francisco 49ers

Whatever direction the team decides to go as far as a new general manager, the fact remains CEO Jed York needs to find a football savvy person to oversee the football operations or this team will continue to struggle.