Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Full 2018 NFL free agency preview and analysis

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second 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: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Will Fuller V #15 of the Houston Texans catches a pass defended by Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Will Fuller V #15 of the Houston Texans catches a pass defended by Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Top 49ers Needs for 2018

San Francisco has to be feeling pretty good after wrapping up last season on a five-game winning streak.

But don’t let that fool you. The 49ers still have plenty of holes to fill and only so many resources to fill them.

Much of this will depend on the landscape of free agency and, subsequently, the 2018 NFL Draft. And after the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions tagged edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Ezekiel Ansah, respectively, the market for a true impact EDGE dried up pretty quickly.

Including EDGE, here is a good indication of the Niners’ top needs this offseason:

  • EDGE
  • Running Back
  • Wide Receiver
  • Linebacker
  • Offensive Line

San Francisco needed a starting-caliber cornerback to pair with second-year pro Ahkello Witherspoon this year. But grabbing Richard Sherman on a three-year deal just ahead of NFL free agency pretty much solves it being a top need. Depth would be nice, though.

Flipping to the other side of the ball, the 49ers could look to find a veteran replacement for Carlos Hyde, although there is a pretty deep crop of talented tailbacks available in the NFL Draft.

Instead, wide receiver figures to be a position of intrigue.

Jimmy Garoppolo got by with a relatively unknown crop of receivers last year, including helping Marquise Goodwin nearly become the team’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Anquan Boldin back in 2014.

Even with the veteran, Pierre Garçon, returning from a season-ending neck injury last year, it’s feasible to see San Francisco make an upgrade.