NFL predictions: 3 reasons why the 49ers make the playoffs in 2018
By Peter Panacy
Reason No. 3: All That Young Talent… and a Quarterback!
There’s usually a bonus to being a bad team with a poor record over a long year-to-year stretch — high draft picks.
It usually means plenty of cap space too. What’s the point in re-signing bad talent, right?
Well, the 49ers have had both for the past two seasons. According to Over the Cap, the Niners already have $59.19 million in available space this season. Rolling that over to the projected $61.24 million in space next year, San Francisco should have roughly $120 million in cap space in 2018.
Some of that will go to extensions, of course, but the rest of the money is cash general manager John Lynch can spend on immediate upgrades.
Top NFL Draft Players Paying Off
It’s pretty safe to say the Niners’ top investment in the 2016 NFL Draft, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, is paying out nicely. And at least one of the team’s first rounders in 2018, linebacker Reuben Foster, looks to be a perennial All-Pro in the making if he can stay healthy.
As for the rest of the 2018 draft class, just check out what our friend Rob Lowder at Niners Wire had to say:
#49ers 2017 draft class:
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 15, 2017
1 - S. Thomas: starter
1 - R. Foster: starter
3 - A. Witherspoon: starter
3 - C. Beathard - starter
4 - J. Williams - IR
5 - G. Kittle - starter
5 - T. Taylor - starter
6 - D. Jones - rotational
6 - P. Taumoepenu - backup
7 - A. Colbert - starter
As Pro Football Focus pointed out, the 49ers are leading the NFL in rookie snap counts this season. The 2,874 rookie snaps entering Week 11 were 661 more than the second-place New Orleans Saints.
Assuming a decent chunk of these Niners rookies amount to something useful, that core should be an excellent crop around which to build. And with what looks to be yet another top-three pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, San Francisco should have an easy time landing yet another top-billed collegiate prospect.
Again, not a bad way to go about a rebuild in short fashion.
A Quarterback… Finally!
OK, so we truly have no clue how well newly acquired QB Jimmy Garoppolo will perform in a 49ers uniform. But it’s a safe bet he’s a substantial upgrade over the no-longer-with-the-team Brian Hoyer, who was benched back in Week 6.
Interestingly enough, that’s when the Niners’ close-game losing streak came to a close. One can only imagine what the results would have been with a better signal-caller under center.
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Nothing against the team’s current starter, C.J. Beathard, but he’s probably best suited for career-backup duties. Garoppolo is the guy, let’s hope.
And if he’s able to effectively master the complex-yet-effective system head coach Kyle Shanahan runs, the Niners offense may wind up performing at a very high level in the near future.
Granted, there are a lot of pieces to be added to the mix. And while the pessimist’s viewpoint is probably a little closer to the truth here, it wouldn’t be entirely shocking to see these same 49ers in the playoff discussion exactly one year from now.
Next: 3 options for the 49ers' first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft
Let’s hope that’s the case.