2012 NFL Free Agents: 5 Players Who Would Spark San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers need to make a spark in free agency this offseason. 

The franchise has the potential to become a dominant team for a long time. If they make some smart offseason moves, they could very well be a Super Bowl contender yet again.

Re-signing key players like Alex Smith, Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers will be important. After locking up some of the key guys responsible for the 49ers' success last season, the team has to improve its weakness (the 49ers have two glaring holes that they could fill in free agency — cornerbacks and wide receivers).

Here is a list of 5 players I believe could help spark the 49ers into taking the next step: 

Robert Mathis

The New York Giants have won two Super Bowls in the past four years largely because of their ferocious defensive line. The 49ers, who have a great defensive line themselves, should continue to improve upon their own strengths.

Robert Mathis' future in Indianapolis seems to be up in the air. How great of an addition would he be to the 49ers' defensive line? Ray McDonald is by no means a bad player. He held down the fort for the 49ers all season long. But the 49ers should at least try to bolster their defensive line via free agency. With a defensive end rotation of Mathis, McDonald and Justin Smith, the 49ers would arguably have a better line than the Giants.

Adding Mathis is wishful thinking. But if the 49ers could somehow steal him, their defense would go from great to possibly historic.  

Carl Nicks

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Carl Nicks is expected to leave the New Orleans Saints. Nicks, who is considered one of the best guards in the NFL, would be a great addition to the 49ers' improving offensive line. The 49ers, at times, had trouble protecting Alex Smith. Nicks could definitely help out. 

Nicks would be an improvement over Adam Snyder (being four years younger), and could be a centerpiece on the 49ers' offensive line for a long time. 

Adding Nicks would improve both aspects of the 49ers' offensive line — pass protection and run blocking. He would strengthen the 49ers' inside running game, opening large holes for Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter.  

Cortland Finnegan

The 49ers need to improve their secondary. It doens't look like Shawntae Spencer will be back next year. Even if the 49ers bring back Carlos Rogers (which they should), the team still needs help at corner. How about Cortland Finnegan? 

Finnegan is "not optimistic" about returning to the Tennessee Titans and believes the team will let him leave. Finnegan was a Pro Bowler in 2008, but he's kind of a head case. Still, I believe that he could really flourish under a head coach like Jim Harbaugh.  

Mario Manningham

The Super Bowl XLVI hero Mario Manningham is going to be a free agent. You better believe there will be some teams that will be begging for his services. Especially a team like the 49ers who need to improve at wide receiver.

Manningham, who is only 25 years old, is just finishing up his four-year, $3.2 million contract with New York. While Manningham wants to return, it's questionable that the Giants will be begging to pay big bucks to their third-string wide receiver.

On the 49ers, Manningham would have an increased role. Even though he's the Giants' third receiver, he could very well be the 49ers' No. 1 option if he were to sign with them. Would he rather be the No. 3 receiver option for Eli Manning, or the No. 1 receiver option for Alex Smith?  

Vincent Jackson

The 49ers need to improve at wide receiver. That's very clear.

If the 49ers choose to go after a wide receiver in free agency, they have two options. They could either go for a guy like Manningham, less known but a lot of potential. Or they could go after a big fish like Vincent Jackson.

Jackson has been great for the San Diego Chargers, but the Bolts haven't been willing to pay him the big bucks even though he's finished with over 1,000 yards three of the last four seasons.

Adding Jackson is somewhat risky because he's not the youngest guy on the block (he just turned 29). But pairing his size with Vernon Davis would be lethal.

The 49ers were not a good red-zone team last season. Jackson's height causes mismatches for cornerbacks and would give Smith a huge target in the end zone.