Ranking 49ers 5 biggest roster needs ahead of NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers don’t have a lot of options to attack NFL free agency in 2020, but there are some notable needs potentially to be addressed. Niner Noise ranks what those needs are.
Over the first two years of their tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t have to worry much about getting close to the salary cap. And given they inherited a team coming off a 2-14 record the previous season, neither Lynch nor Shanahan had to worry about lucrative extensions and player re-signings clouding those same salary cap waters.
Yet the 2020 Niners, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, are hitting those worries this offseason. With just north of $13 million in available cap space, currently according to Over the Cap, it’s going to be difficult for Lynch and Shanahan to navigate many of the tough questions ahead of them. The 2020 NFL Draft later this April can provide additional means, yes. But with a limited array of picks, and just one (No. 31 overall) in the first four rounds, relying completely on the draft is a tough proposal, too.
And while San Francisco doesn’t have a ton of roster needs, especially compared to many of the previous years, those needs are there.
Before Lynch and Shanahan make their moves to address them, it’s important to break down the needs specifically, looking at how NFL free agency might be used as a means to address any roster questions the 49ers have before kicking off their upcoming campaign.
Niner Noise breaks down the top five needs, suggesting how the front office uses NFL free agency to address each position.