San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 positions to upgrade and how to upgrade them
![PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7d52e1d65cd38d0f102a1ba144dc722553544075c302121895c35808dbf1035a.jpg)
No. 5: Defensive End
Why the position must be addressed:
The Niners have a serious pass-rush problem to address this offseason. They ranked an abysmal 26th (tied with the Miami Dolphins with 30) and their top pass-rusher was veteran stopgap Elvis Dumervil with 6.5 sacks.
Clearly this must change.
How it can be addressed:
Defensive end isn’t the biggest problem the Niners have right now, and they already have a pair of promising youngsters in Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas. So it is possible we could see them naturally progress into feared pass-rushers next season as is.
However even then, someone should be brought in. Short of achieving a draft miracle in having N.C. State standout Bradley Chubb fall, the Niners are unlikely to aggressively look in the draft for a pass-rusher.
Ezekiel Ansah, however, looks like an interesting get for the Niners. He is injury prone, but Ansah can be rotated as a pass-rushing specialist who can terrorize quarterbacks and take attention away from the younger linemen.
Also look for a later pick to be used on a prospect who’s a natural pass-rusher and can be rotated in on third downs.