How the San Francisco 49ers Can Win the Offseason
After two disappointing seasons, the San Francisco 49ers are in bad need of a win. Unfortunately, a victory on the field this time just won’t cut it. This team needs work from top to bottom, and it won’t happen overnight. However, if it’s done right this team can return to its championship ways. Here’s how the 49ers can win the offseason.
Be honest, the San Francisco 49ers front office has given you nothing to cheer about over the past two years.
No matter how many changes they have made, nothing has seemed to make a difference.
After a 2-14 season, CEO Jed York finally realized that desperate times call for drastic measures. Trent Baalke and Chip Kelly were kindly shown the door along with the majority of the assistant coaching staff.
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The rebuild is in full swing and a new regime is in place.
Leading this team back to relevance will be rookie general manager John Lynch and first-time head coach Kyle Shanahan.
At their current disposal, the two have a crop of young players, a bevy of high picks in the upcoming NFL Draft and the second-most available cap space in the NFL with just over $78.6 million (and potentially growing).
While it sounds like a win-win situation, all decisions made while moving forward are very important. Every move represents a building block for the new foundation of this team. And if the foundation isn’t handled with care, the house will come crashing down.
However, if they can become major players in free agency and pull off a successful draft, then the 49ers can win the offseason.
York has already put his team on the right track by hiring Lynch and Shanahan. They are proven winners on the field, and they have a championship mentality that the team is sorely lacking.
After careful consideration here are three things that can restore the dignity of this team and help the duo of Lynch and Shanahan score a much-needed victory.
Be open to upgrading every position whenever possible
Unfortunately, when your team has a horrible season, Sunday becomes just another day of the week. The upside however is you end up with a high pick in every round of the draft.
This year, the 49ers sit at pick No. 2. Realistically speaking, just about every pick in the top 10 should be a solid performer who can make an immediate impact. If Lynch and Shanahan have the opportunity, it may be beneficial to take their first rounder and trade back a few spots. This way they can still draft in the top 10, but they can also turn their pick into multiple selections.
This strategy is beneficial for any team. But when you have many needs, it increases your chances of filling roster spots. At the very least, it will give this team something it hasn’t had in three years — options.
They can use the picks, trade them to another team to move up or package them to trade for a proven player. Either way it puts this team in the driver’s seat.
Spend the money and bring in playmakers
In the good old days at Candlestick Park, the 49ers really knew how to light up the scoreboard. They had respectable ownership, experienced coaches and impact players.
This proved to be a recipe for success and a catalyst for all-out excitement. Players from all over the league wanted to suit up for the franchise. In fact, during the year of their fifth Super Bowl victory, just about every marquee player available in free agency did.
For some time now, San Francisco hasn’t exactly been the first choice for top-tier free agents. After almost two decades of being an attractive option for players, the team has lost its way.
Shortly after the hiring of John Lynch, he spoke of bringing back alumni players for team involvement.
Winners attract winners. Lynch knows this mentality all too well. His goal is to restore the success of this team by bringing back the ones who made the initial success possible. In order for this team to succeed, the fans have to believe. With playmakers on the field, excitement will restore itself into every seat in the stadium.
After three disappointing seasons, the Faithful need to feel that excitement again. As a first-time general manager and the hopeful savior of this team, Lynch needs to spend the available cap space on players that can bring fire to the stadium.
Draft the best player available
Every team wants the best players for their squad. Great players make great teams, and great teams win championships.
When your team is stuck in the loss column, your roster is filled with question marks. This makes it possible for the front office to implement a strategy that has had great success for many years.
On April 27, when the 49ers are officially on the clock, the war room needs to draft the best player available with every selection. This will not only give the team quality impact players, but it will push the current players at that position to work harder.
It puts the players that are on their way out on notice, and it shows the coaches who is worthy of a roster spot.
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The franchise is in a good place for the first time in a while. It’s time to let Shanahan find his quarterback of the future and lead his team to the promised land, wherever that may be.
Next: Colin Kaepernick to Opt Out of His 49ers Contract, per Report
Stick around, Faithful. It’s finally your turn.