Niner Noise
FanSided

NFC West power rankings heading into the 2018 offseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Lance Dunbar #25 of the Los Angeles Rams runs in a touchdown past Ahkello Witherspoon #23, Adrian Colbert #38 and Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Lance Dunbar #25 of the Los Angeles Rams runs in a touchdown past Ahkello Witherspoon #23, Adrian Colbert #38 and Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

. San Francisco 49ers. 2. team. 42. . 2017 Record: 6-10

So much for long and drawn-out rebuild in San Francisco.

The Niners are undefeated since Jimmy Garoppolo took over at quarterback, certainly influencing the record-breaking five-year, $137.5 million deal he signed this month.

Despite the massive contract, which will eventually be eclipsed by soon-to-be negotiations in the near future, the 49ers still have $74,503,582 in cap space — third most in the NFL, per Over the Cap.

That’s a lot of money for a team with its franchise QB in place.

Additionally, Garoppolo will have a full offseason’s time to grasp head coach Kyle Shanahan’s complex-yet-effective playbook. Garoppolo was operating on only the surface of it a year ago and rode that wave to a 5-0 record.

Of course, there are other question marks looming, but signs are pointing upwards and possibly to contending for an NFC West crown.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Reasons to Be Excited

Garoppolo. Have you noticed the hype? Thought so.

OK, so he’ll need some help. But the 49ers have more than shown the ability to put together quality talent in one season. Case in point, rookie tight end George Kittle (taken in Round 5 of the 2017 NFL Draft) had more receiving yards than any other rookie TE drafted in Round 5 or later during modern NFL history. Slot receiver Trent Taylor was a bona fide weapon on third downs, and rookie safety Adrian Colbert (Round 7) ended up being a quality starter by the end of the year.

Not bad, Mr. John Lynch. Not bad at all. Those are hits Niners fans only wished former GM Trent Baalke would have had.

There shouldn’t be any reason to expect much different from Lynch in year two of his reign.

Reasons to Worry

Well, the whole Reuben Foster situation is ugly. His second arrest in less than a month’s time reinforces all those concerns he had entering the 2017 NFL Draft. Sure, he’s electric on the field and makes San Francisco’s defense infinitely better.

But at what cost? What if the allegations of domestic violence are true?

The Niners are biding their time with the Foster report. But they’ll need a contingency plan in place. Fortunately, they get fellow linebacker Malcolm Smith back from a season-long pectoral injury. Yet there’s more needed here.

Same goes with the secondary, where a top-flight cornerback should be high on Lynch’s radar. If Lynch can’t grab one, the 49ers offense will still be subject to a terrible pass defense.

Amplified by the lack of a true pass-rusher, as San Francisco finished 2017 ranked 26th in the league with just 30 sacks.

2018 Prediction: 10-6