49ers must replace DeMeco Ryans with one of these top coordinators

49ers defensive coordinator candidate No. 3: Ejiro Evero

There are those who may question Lovie Smith’s age and would prefer to go after a defensive coordinator on the ascent instead of someone who has made it around league circles for multiple seasons.

Should that be the case, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero might be a great target.

Evero had a stint with the 49ers as an assistant way back under former head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2011 and through 2015. And while the entire context of the franchise has changed since then, Evero has worked his way through the ranks as a secondary coach for the Los Angeles Rams before taking on the coordinator job with Denver.

Evero wisely turned down the option to be the Broncos’ interim head coach when they fired Nathaniel Hackett late in the year, and with Denver hiring Sean Payton as its next head coach, Evero probably won’t have the ability to stick around if Payton wants his own assistants.

Denver still boasted a middle-of-the-pack defense despite having one of the most inept offenses in recent football history last season, and Evero should get some consideration for an upgraded roster elsewhere.

Perhaps with the Niners.