NFL Free Agency: No Nnamdi Asomugha, No Problem for San Francisco 49ers?

49ers Taking Laissez-Faire Approach to Another Level this Offseason

The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly out of the running for cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The 49ers were considered major players in the hunt for Asomugha, but as of this morning, it appears they are no longer a candidate for free agency's top prize.

Jim Harbaugh's nightmarish offseason continues. With Frank Gore holding out, Michael Crabtree's foot injury knocking him out 4-6 weeks and the 49ers hemorrhaging starters from last season, nothing is going right for the 49ers thus far.

Even so, all is not lost. They've pulled out of the Asomugha sweepstakes, but they still have a chance to upgrade their cornerback situation.

Antonio Cromartie is going to be overpriced, but he's also one heck-of-a cornerback. He's not going to completely wipe out one half of the field like Asomugha can, but he is a huge upgrade from Nate Clements, who the 49ers recently parted ways with.

Chris Carr is also a name that could come to the forefront in connection to the 49ers. He's a corner they could get at a bargain rate, but who wouldn't solve the secondary woes.

The Texans bailed on the Asomugha sweepstakes and signed Jonathan Joseph, a move several teams, including the 49ers, could be kicking themselves for not making.

If the 49ers have indeed given up on bringing in Asomugha, expect them to pursue a cornerback in the very near future. While Cromartie comes with baggage, the 49ers have the cap room to bring him in and he is the next best cornerback on the market.

They may have to overpay to get a legitimate No. 1 corner, but overpaying isn't the worst case scenario imaginable at this point.

Fans are becoming frustrated, as the 49ers are creating more holes and doing literally nothing to fill them. Now, with a major hole at center, corner, defensive tackle and potentially free safety, the urgency to start making moves is at an all-time high.

When the 49ers said they weren't going to make a huge splash in free agency, they were understating their intentions. While it appeared as though that meant they could target a guy like Joseph rather than Asomugha, it appears they meant that they were going to remain lifeless.

It would be interesting to hear if this was what the 49ers intended all along. Is this thing going exactly to plan or are the wheels coming off? With no immediate impact players drafted and the 49ers being a non-factor in free agency, it almost appears as though Harbaugh isn't in a hurry to take hold of the division.

The Seahawks lost Matt Hasselbeck, but they brought in Sydney Rice. The Cardinals brought in Kevin Kolb just as they had been planning to do the entire offseason. The Rams have Sam Bradford and could make a great case for being the division favorite.

Meanwhile, the 49ers are sleeping. They had better start making moves before they find themselves taking a step backwards from a lackluster year last season.

Harbaugh clearly wants to build the team through the draft. He and the 49ers had better start making some moves, before we start looking at a potential Andrew Luck and Harbaugh reunion.

No Nnamdi no problem? Perhaps, but if the 49ers elect to make David Akers their biggest free agency acquisition, they are looking at being the worst team in the worst division in football.

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Follow Kyle Vassalo on Twitter @ASU52

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