Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 positions to upgrade and how to upgrade them

By Jeremy Wohlfart

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) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up the pass to Dede Westbrook #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up the pass to Dede Westbrook #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Cornerback

Why this position must be addressed:

It’s no secret the NFL is now a passing league first and foremost. As a result, teams need at the very least a trio of good corners to have a chance to counter the best passing attacks.

Ahkello Witherspoon got better as the year went on, and K’Waun Williams is a solid third cornerback for the defense. But the Niners need someone across from Witherspoon. Dontae Johnson is not the answer.

How it can be addressed:

The reason why this is ranked ahead of the interior line, is because despite the bigger need of the offensive line there’s a lot less for the Niners to chase.

Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick is almost definitely gone before the Niners pick at No. 9/10, and Iowa’s Joshua Jackson possibly could too. Denzel Ward from Ohio State is a possible solution to the problem.

But maybe the target could be a big fish, and he’s going to be in the Super Bowl.

HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans catches a touchdown pass defended by Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans catches a touchdown pass defended by Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Next: San Francisco 49ers should not trade Jimmy Garoppolo

The New England Patriots’ Malcolm Butler is one of the top corners in the NFL, and if the Niners decide to devote a good chunk of their war chest to the defensive side of the ball then Butler might be the best possible addition, and one that could turn one of the weakest positions on the roster into one of the most exciting.