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 – SEPTEMBER 16: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions is sacked by Cassius Marsh #54 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions is sacked by Cassius Marsh #54 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Edge Rusher

Well, this should be pretty obvious.

If you subscribe to the idea a secondary is only as good as its pass rush allows it to be, you’d conclude the Niners need to add an elite outside pass-rusher to make their defense complete.

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Right now, they don’t have one. It’s showing.

EDGE Cassius Marsh had his best game of the season in Week 5, picking up his first sack of 2018 and also registering three tackles during San Francisco’s 28-18 loss. At this rate, he’ll finish the year with three sacks.

Yeah, not exactly a quality finish.

It’s easy to blame second-year defensive end Solomon Thomas for the team’s pass-rushing woes. But the Niners have been playing him out of position, often lining him up as the team’s LEO outside rusher on base downs. He’ll make his impact on the inside, either from a strong-side 3-technique or the outside big end on the opposite side of the formation. Thomas simply doesn’t have the speed to match up against quality left tackles.

The good news, however, is the 2019 NFL Draft is laden with quality outside pass-rushers, meaning the 49ers shouldn’t have any hesitation using one of their early picks to make a much-needed upgrade.

Next. Cardinals vs. 49ers: Full grades, analysis for San Francisco. dark

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