Niner Noise
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3 positions 49ers need to upgrade this offseason

By Josh Altorfer

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers and Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers react during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers and Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers react during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Wide receiver

The most volatile position for the 49ers entering the 2020 offseason is wide receiver. If Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd can return from their 2019 injuries completely healthy and Dante Pettis can regain the confidence of Shanahan, then they could have a really solid group of receivers.

Then again, if things play out similar to last season and Emmanuel Sanders walks in free agency, then the team is left with Deebo Samuel as the only reliable pass catcher at the position.

The 49ers can’t leave such an important position up to chance. With Sanders likely suiting up for a new team next season, it must find a playmaker than can replicate his production.

https://twitter.com/ESanders_10/status/1237120337579397120

Free agency offers two big-time receivers this offseason with Amari Cooper and A.J. Green set to hit the open market. Both are widely expected to re-sign with their current teams the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively. They have just about no shot ending up in a 49ers uniform because of the money they are likely to command.

After that, the available receivers drop off several tiers to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Breshad Perriman and the New York Jets’ Robby Anderson.

Neither wideout seems to be the long-term fit opposite Samuel.

Looking forward to the NFL Draft is much more exciting in regards to the wide receiver position. It is more talented than it has been in recent memory. Yes, many of the top guys like Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) and CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) will be long gone before the Niners are on the board. But there are still plenty of dynamic pass catchers to get excited about.

My personal favorite is Tee Higgins from Clemson.

Drafting Higgins would give the Niners something it has not had in a very long time: a receiver who is a legitimate end-zone threat. Higgins broke Clemson’s record for most touchdown receptions in school history with 27 in his three-year career. Keep in mind, current standout NFL receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins both played their college ball for the Tigers.

The tape on Higgins shows he creates enough separation from corners to get open, but he excels because of his enormous catch radius. His skill set is completely different from Samuel’s, which would make them a dynamic duo for years to come.

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Higgins makes the most sense for the 49ers if he falls to them at No. 31. The Niners need more improvement on the offensive side of the ball than the defensive side. Wide receiver is arguably the second most important position on offense behind quarterback. It is not a spot San Francisco can enter the 2020 regular season uncertain about.