After free agency and the draft, what holes remain for the 49ers?

While waiting in line for the 49ers draft party, somebody turned to me and asked, “SO, who do you think we’ll pick.”  Without batting an eye I said “Crabtree”.  It’s not as if I really had a clue, I simply replied with who I wanted.  Who knew it would come to fruition?  Well, it did, and I was elated.  The most obvious choice would have been to take one of the four elite offensive tackles still on the board but when you can fill both a need and get the best player available you take him.  So they did and finally, the 49ers got their big playmaker receiver since Terrell Owens.  When I saw Everette Brown still available in the second round I thought for sure the 49ers would grab him, after all they needed a pass rusher and a lot of mock drafts early on had them taking him with their 10^th pick overall.  As it turned out, Carolina liked him better, and swapped their 1^st rounder next year for Brown and a 4^th.  We really won’t know how valuable that pick is until a year from now but you have to believe the 49ers felt the pick figures to be more valuable than taking a chance on converting a defensive end into an outside linebacker.  The 49ers would never pick up a pass rusher or an offensive tackle with their remaining draft picks, two glaring needs going in.

With the addition of Michael Crabtree, free agent Brandon Jones, and the emergence of second year player Josh Morgan, depth at wide receiver is pretty stout. The running back position also benefited with the addition of Glen Coffee out of Alabama and undrafted free agent Kory Sheets of Purdue.  The most glaring needs not filled adequately, either in the draft or in free agency, are outside linebacker, free safety, and right tackle.  I’m intrigued with the signing of rookie free agent, Alex Boone from Ohio State.  If Coach Singletary can get through to this kid and Boone can improve his foot work, as well as exercise his demons, he will add some nice depth to Marvel Smith and possibly become a starter in the near future.  Free safety is still a question mark with Dashon Goldson penciled in as a first time starter.  Goldson will have some competition though, with Reggie Smith, a recently converted corner back.  Seventh round pick Curtis Taylor figures to line up at strong safety and may not be a factor except on special teams.  Going into OTA’s and training camp, outside linebacker appears to be the biggest question mark.

With Carolina’s 1^st round pick for 2010 and a lot of cap room available, the 49ers could conceivably go after Terrell Suggs or Julius Peppers in a trade.  If the 49ers decide to keep that pick, however, their going to have to settle with what they’ve got.  Parys Haralson started making strides last year with eight sacks and Manny Lawson could return to form as he looks like he might have fully recovered from his torn ACL from 2007.  If both these guys can live up to their potential everything could be just peachy, but that’s a big if.  If the 49er’s can not generate an adequate pass rush with these guys, opposing offenses will have a field day, putting added pressure on the secondary.  Look for Manusky to rotate recently signed Marques Harris and Ahmad Brooks into the mix and perhaps even Jay Moore, if he can finally stay healthy and make the roster. 

Although, there still remains many uncertainties through out the entire roster, including quarterback, it appears both Scott McClaughan and Coach Singletary are quite prepared to go into the season with what they have right now.  However, things can change quickly with that fat juicy pick in their pocket.  With Marvel Smith, Barry Sims, Adam Snyder, and Alex Boone in the mix at right tackle, the stables seem full enough.  So at this juncture I don’t expect any activity there in trade or free agency, unless, of course, there’s an injury.  However, if the outside linebacker position fails to generate a sufficient pass rush come preseason, it just may prove too hard to resist a proven pass rusher like Julius Peppers. Trade a first rounder for a pass rusher, whose buying?