Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 positional needs for 2019 offseason

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions catches a touchdown pass over Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 30-27. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Marvin Jones #11 of the Detroit Lions catches a touchdown pass over Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 30-27. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 07: Fred Warner #48 and Cassius Marsh #54 of the San Francisco 49ers react to a play against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 07: Fred Warner #48 and Cassius Marsh #54 of the San Francisco 49ers react to a play against the Arizona Cardinals during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers are now off to a 1-4 start in 2018, meaning the 2019 season now becomes the focus. What does the team need to address this offseason?

Any thoughts of the San Francisco 49ers legitimately contending for a playoff berth in 2018 quickly evaporated when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered his season-ending ACL tear back in Week 3.

And if there were any small, lingering hopes, those disappeared with the Niners’ back-to-back winnable-but-ugly losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively.

Now at 1-4, the rest of this season has turned into a focal point back towards San Francisco’s rebuild. In fairness to the front office, Garoppolo’s emergence last year led many of us to believe the rebuild was much further along than initially considered.

Reality is proving to be much, much different.

The 49ers have more than a few needs on both sides of the ball. Fortunately, they’re going to be armed with a swath of salary cap space in 2019, which should help on the free-agent market. And the way things are going now, the Niners would be in hot contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

At least a top-five selection.

Understanding that, let’s break down the top five positions of need for the 49ers next season. Whether it be through free agency or the NFL Draft, these will be the main priorities for general manager John Lynch and Co.

Listed in reverse order, of course.