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Sports Illustrated gives the 49ers a B grade for 2018 offseason moves

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) /
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Andy Benoit over at Sports Illustrated has dished out grades for each NFL team’s offseason, and he has the San Francisco 49ers earning a B grade for efforts in 2018.

Sports Illustrated’s Andy Benoit has been hard at work looking over all 32 teams around the NFL and breaking down a grade after their respective efforts heading into the 2018 regular season.

And for the San Francisco 49ers, Benoit has dished out a B grade.

Niners general manager John Lynch wasn’t quite as active in free agency this time around. Unlike last year, 2018 was less about a complete overhaul of the roster and more about fine-tuning the various pieces that needed an upgrade.

Still, San Francisco was able to cash in on some big-name free agents.

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Running back Jerick McKinnon and cornerback Richard Sherman topped the list of notable signings. McKinnon, who has yet to reach above 570 rush yards in a single season, takes over for former 49ers tailback Carlos Hyde, who left for the Cleveland Browns via free agency.

Here’s an excerpt of what Benoit had to say about San Francisco’s efforts:

"What improved?The passing game, on two fronts. First, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has had an offseason to learn Kyle Shanahan’s scheme. Second, that scheme emphasizes running backs in the passing game, and the Niners signed what they believe is a terrific receiving back in McKinnon. Shanahan will shift and motion McKinnon all over to feature him in various formations.What needs work?The cornerback group… potentially. There are a lot of questions. Can Richard Sherman, coming off surgery on both Achilles’ tendons, handle the left corner job? Can last year’s third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon, who is moving to right corner, build on the flashes he showed as a rookie? If the answer to either question is no, then who steps up behind them? This roster is bereft of proven perimeter corners outside of Sherman."

Interestingly enough, Benoit listed cornerback as the position needing the most work. Aside from Sherman and, to a lesser extent, Jimmie Ward, it’s a young group heading towards a “let’s see” kind of season.

Most Niners fans would argue the edge rush would be the biggest issue, though. Benoit made note of this, citing Lynch’s signing of former Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Jeremiah Attaochu. He and fellow edge rusher Cassius Marsh will ultimately shoulder the bulk of the team’s outside pass-rushing duties this season.

Attaochu and Marsh have a combined 16 career sacks between them.

A solid pass rush will certainly negate any worries over the secondary, particularly if you subscribe to the belief a defensive backfield is only as good as its pass rush allows it to be. Yet if San Francisco’s corners exceed expectations, that should also create more of the “coverage” sacks many elite-level defenses can create.

Let’s hope for that especially if the Niners pass rush isn’t quite up to snuff.

Next: Ranking the 49ers' top 25 players heading into 2018

Benoit gave the 49ers’ NFC West division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, a C grade, the Los Angeles Rams a B-plus and the Seattle Seahawks a C.