The 49ers can’t afford to ignore any position in the 2017 NFL Draft, but some needs are indeed greater than others, here we rank their priorities.
Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, one thing is undeniable, the 49ers could use help at every position on the roster.
San Francisco did, however, address its crippling lack of talent in free agency, splashing the cash to bring in experience and players who fit head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system.
The real test of the credentials of the new front office headed by GM John Lynch will come in this month’s draft. And, with the Niners just weeks away from being on the clock, we ranked every area of the team in terms of how San Francisco should prioritize it heading into the draft.
11. Special Teams
It is tough to rank special teams as a requirement for a team that legitimately needs to make additions everywhere, but there is no doubt it is always better to add rookies who have the experience on special teams and the willingness to make an impact in that area of the game.
The Niners have already added a number of special teams guys in free agency with linebackers Dekoda Watson and Brock Coyle as well as safety Don Jones, and the introduction of some rookies who can contribute in the third facet of the game should help boost a unit that ranked No. 17 in special teams DVOA last season, according to Football Outsiders.
10. Interior Defensive Line
The interior defensive line class in this draft is not good and the 49ers probably have enough depth up front for at least the coming season.
Earl Mitchell will likely be slated to play the 1-technique in the Niners’ 4-3 defense while Quinton Dial and Chris Jones figure to be in the rotation in the trenches, too.
The transition from a 3-4 has led to questions surrounding where DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead will play, and there is a strong chance one of them will serve as the interior pass rusher at the 3-technique spot next to Mitchell.
But at 29 it is unrealistic to expect Mitchell to serve as the long-term answer in the middle and, even in a poor class, it would be no surprise to see the 49ers take a rookie to mould to eventually take over from him.
9. Running Back
The 49ers definitely have a starter level talent at running back in Carlos Hyde but the question remains over whether he can stay healthy for a full season, the former second-round pick having failed to do so since being drafted in the second round in 2014.
With that in mind, there is a logical school of thought that San Francisco should take a tailback from a loaded class at the position and give the 49ers a player who can pick up the slack should Hyde go down again.
But the 49ers can now go into the draft safe in the knowledge they have already improved their backup to Hyde by bringing in Tim Hightower, who ran for 548 yards and four touchdowns and caught 22 balls for 200 yards and a score while with the Saints last year.
Hightower’s arrival does not mean the Niners are out of the running back market by any means but, with a starter and very capable backup in place, the need has lessened to a degree.
8. Tight End
The value of the tight end position in the NFL has arguably never been higher and that is set to be well illustrated in a draft that features plenty of talent at the position.
There are multiple tight ends in the first-round conversation and, given their lack of impact players at the position, the 49ers would be wise to try to grab a difference-maker there at some point in the draft.
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Vance McDonald received an extension but the drops are still an issue, Logan Paulsen was brought in mainly as a blocking tight end and Blake Bell has simply not panned out thus far.
Throw in Garrett Celek’s woeful 2016 – which deserves to result in him getting cut – and the need at tight end looks great.
What makes it something of a less urgent requirement is the presence of fullback Kyle Juszczyk, likely to operate in the H-back role with his skills as a pass-catcher, but it would be naive to go into the season solely relying on him and McDonald.
7. Linebacker
Perhaps the most-criticized signing of the 49ers offseason has been that of linebacker Malcolm Smith, who was given a contract despite an underwhelming spell with Raiders.
NaVorro Bowman will be back from his Achilles injury but a linebacking trio of Bowman, Smith and Ray-Ray Armstrong looks quite uninspiring.
Bowman is an exceptional player but will have two long injury recoveries under his belt by the time the season starts and could greatly benefit by having an athletic rookie next to him.
The 49ers have invested heavily in the trenches in recent years, but the other section of the front seven definitely needs some retooling.
6. Safety
The 49ers once looked set at safety, but the depth they had at the position has crumbled.
Antoine Bethea’s play fell off a cliff last season and he was rightly cut, leaving a hole at strong safety which, as it stands would have to be filled by Eric Reid with Jimmie Ward touted to transition back to free safety from corner.
But Reid has never matched the heights of his rookie season and has a worrying history of concussions, while Jaquiski Tartt looks more like a hybrid player best utilized down in the box or as an extra pass rusher.
All this makes it extremely important that the 49ers take advantage of a very strong safety class.
They have options at No. 2 overall in Malik Hooker, a game-changing free safety with the range to play the single-high role in the 49ers’ Cover 3, and a tone-setting strong safety in Jamal Adams.
But there is talent at both those spots further down the draft and it would behoove the 49ers to take at least one safety and hasten the departure of Reid, who is entering the last year of his contract.
5. Receiver
San Francisco’s situation at receiver has been drastically improved via free agency.
The Niners ridded themselves of a Torrey Smith contract that was nowhere close to being justified, let continual source of frustration Quinton Patton walk and brought in players who have the tools to make an impact in Kyle Shanahan’s system.
Pierre Garcon is far from one of the top receivers in the league but he is a legitimate NFL starter who has produced consistently and can fill the void left by Anquan Boldin’s 2015 departure.
Marqise Goodwin gives the 49ers a burner who can stretch the field and Aldrick Robinson, like Garcon, arrives with familiarity in Shanahan’s scheme.
Both Goodwin and Robinson, along with the re-signed Jeremy Kerley — the best receiver on the team last season — provide the Niners with options in the slot, meaning San Francisco will not have to pin hope on a player in Bruce Ellington who has rarely been healthy.
The 49ers do still lack another receiver to play on the outside, however, and whether they go after a physically dominant pass-catcher who can bully people in the red zone or a slighter but speedier wideout capable of making things happen after the catch, finding another starter to complement Garcon should rank very highly on their list of requirements.
4. Offensive Line
Investment in the offensive line has been heavy in recent times, and that must continue to be the case for a Niners team still in need of pieces up front.
While the trade for center Jeremy Zuttah has added depth to the interior, there is still a hole at left guard and, on the outside, it is still far from certain Trent Brown is the answer at right tackle, particularly with Shanahan’s system demanding athleticism from his linemen.
Add in the fact that left tackle Joe Staley will be 33 by the time the season starts and there is little excuse for the 49ers, even in a poor O-Line draft, not to add to the trenches.
3. Cornerback
In a pass-first NFL, the importance of the cornerback position cannot be overstated and, though the Niners have some pieces at the position, reinforcements are a must.
K’Waun Williams figures to take the slot corner role but, with Ward potentially transitioning to safety and Tramaine Brock cut after his domestic violence arrest, there could be vacancies at both starting spots.
Rashard Robinson showed enough flashes and has the length to suggest he can succeed in Robert Saleh’s defense and fill one of those holes, but Dontae Johnson and Keith Reaser have not really shown enough consistency to be trusted to be deployed in the other.
Marshon Lattimore has the size, ball skills and athleticism to immediately step in and be a starter, but this class is deep enough that the 49ers can bring in a couple of corners to compete for a role on the outside. One way or another, cornerback figures to be high on the 49ers’ docket in the draft.
2. Quarterback
This quarterback class continues to divide opinion but, though the 49ers have a bridge guy in Brian Hoyer, San Francisco is a team that needs to keeps adding signal-callers until the long-term answer is found.
The Niners cannot bank on Kirk Cousins becoming available next offseason and, as long as they do not have the player capable of running the offense for the foreseeable future, continual investment at the most important position in football needs to be made.
1. Edge Rusher
For the last two seasons, the 49ers have been terrible at rushing the passer. It is a problem that has been even more glaring than the lack of a solution under center.
San Francisco has put up a mere 61 sacks in the last two seasons, with Ahmad Brooks leading the way with 12.5 sacks in that timeframe.
But Brooks is 33 and cannot continue to be relied on. Meanwhile, Aaron Lynch’s career progress has stalled and the likes of Eli Harold and Tank Carradine have fallen well below expectations.
If San Francisco is to build a fearsome defense once again, then having a potent pass rush will obviously be key.
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As they rebuild the 49ers cannot afford to have the same struggles getting after the quarterback. In a loaded edge rusher, San Francisco must address this need with multiple picks.