Ranking the San Francisco 49ers' Biggest Offseason Priorities

After missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season, the San Francisco 49ers look set to undergo an offseason of great change.

The first priority for the 49er organization will be to find a new head coach following the departure of Jim Harbaugh, however, once his replacement has been found, there will be great pressure on general manager Trent Baalke to fill a number of holes as San Francisco aims to make an immediate return to postseason play in 2015.

Prior to the 2014 season, the Niners were considered to be one of the deepest teams in the NFL. But now they appear to be lacking in many areas and are in line to lose a number of key players to free agency.

Indeed, San Francisco heads into the offseason with questions over the running back and wide receiver spots, while on the other side of the ball a previously well stocked defensive line is likely to be in need of something of a retool.

But what should be the 49ers' top priority in the offseason? Here I break down the most pressing roster issues facing Baalke ahead of a period that could well define his tenure as GM in San Francisco.

Ranking Criteria

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Before we press ahead with the task of prioritising the Niners' offseason issues, let's underline the criteria for these rankings.

The rankings will be in descending order, from the top priority down to what I feel is the least important of the big needs San Francisco should be looking to address.

I will rate the priorities on the strength in depth the 49ers possess at the position each priority concerns and the importance of prospective free agents the Niners stand to lose that occupy the same role.

1. Acquire a Deep Receiving Threat

On paper the 49ers looked to have one of the better and more experienced receiving corps going into the 2014 season. 

San Francisco brought in Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd prior to the campaign, adding to a group that already featured Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and an incredible physical specimen at tight end in the form of Vernon Davis.

An offensive explosion in the passing game was expected by many but did not materialize. Lloyd was brought in to serve as a complementary deep threat to Vernon Davis, who had carried that responsibility by himself for many years, yet both struggled markedly in a dreadful year for the 49er offense.

Davis, so reliable in the past, recorded only 26 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns while Lloyd had just 14 grabs for 294 yards and a score. The lack of a real significant downfield threat was evident throughout the year for the Niners, who finished the campaign ranked at No. 30 in passing offense with just five plays of 40 yards or more.

Those poor numbers will likely ensure that Lloyd, a free agent in 2015, is not back in San Francisco. Davis may well join him in leaving the Bay if the Niners decide his $4.35million salary is not worth the scant production he delivered.

Impending free agent Crabtree is unlikely to return and, like Davis, Johnson could find himself ending up as a salary-cap casualty after just one year with his hometown team.

The prospective exits of that latter duo should not be an issue for an offense well stocked with young possession-type receivers and one that possesses a superb safety net in Boldin. Instead, with Lloyd and Davis both candidates to leave the 49ers, it is clear that their top priority has to be finding a long-ball wideout for quarterback Colin Kaepernick to lean on. 

In the 2014 draft, the 49ers saw the likes of Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kelvin Benjamin selected before their late first-round slot, and then they passed on impressive rookie pass-catchers Martavis Bryant, Davante Adams and Donte Moncrief in the later rounds.

They paid for those mistakes in 2014, but the Niners' mediocre 8-8 season leaves them in a good 2015 draft spot at No. 15 to snag one of the premier receiving talents of this class.

Louisville's DeVante Parker, viewed as the No. 12 player in the draft by CBSSports, has the ideal blend of size and speed that San Francisco needs so desperately. West Virginia's Kevin White and Arizona State's Jaelen Strong possess a similar combination of attributes and Dorial Green-Beckham and Devin Funchess both project as potential big-play targets at pro level. 

Torrey Smith of the Baltimore Ravens and the St. Louis Rams' Kenny Britt are players worth looking at if the 49ers choose to go down the free-agency route. The Niners have a plethora of options if they decide to finally acquire the deep threat the team has been lacking for so long. For a passing attack nobody in the NFL is scared of, it is imperative San Francisco makes such an acquisition.

2. Add Defensive Line Depth

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

One thing the San Francisco front office clearly understands is that successful NFL teams are built up front.

The Niners have lived by that philosophy and thus their offensive and defensive lines have long been strong points of the team. However, going into the offseason, the defensive front is beginning to look depleted and inexperienced.

According to NFL Media's Alex Flanagan, veteran Justin Smith—for so long the heart and soul of the D-line—is pondering retirement after 14 seasons in the NFL. Such a decision would not be unexpected, yet it would be damaging to a group that lost Ray McDonald as he was released following allegations of sexual assault.

The departure of Smith would leave the Niners with an interesting decision to make over whether to bring in reinforcements on the defensive front after second-year players Quinton Dial and Tank Carradine both showed flashes of promise in 2014, the latter ending the year with three sacks and 13 defensive stops, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

On that basis, the future of the D-Line would appear to be bright, but there is no guarantee that Carradine or Dial will be able to command the double teams that Smith has regularly soaked up, opening up holes for namesake and pass-rushing specialist Aldon Smith.

With Ian Williams and Glenn Dorsey both proving themselves to be extremely proficient at nose tackle, the Niners can at least claim to have options at the head of the line. One of that duo could possibly move outside to fill a spot as a defensive end, but the fact is there will be little in terms of quality depth on the line should Smith opt to call it a day.

Tony Jerod-Eddie has proved to be useful in rotation, while Kaleb Ramsey could also compete for playing time after effectively redshirting his rookie year. And given their ability to get production out of their men in the trenches, adding pieces to the defensive line is not as important for the Niners as boosting a receiving corps that has flattered to deceive for too long.

Yet this is a franchise that has been consistent in building on its strengths and should be quick to recognise that there is a potential for a drop-off due to McDonald's release and Smith's seemingly upcoming decision to end his career.

The hope will be that Carradine and Dial build on the positive steps they have made in 2014. San Francisco cannot afford to rest on its laurels, though, and needs to add strength in depth and increased competition up front to make sure the D-Line is just as effective going forward.

3. Re-Sign Frank Gore

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

For the first time in his NFL career, Frank Gore does not have a contract going into the offseason.

The 49ers' all-time leading rusher was too often an afterthought in their offensive game plan, yet he was still able to prove his worth to the organization by rushing for 1,000 yards for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

Gore picked up 302 of those yards in the final two games of the campaign as the Niners restored him as the focal point of the offense; however, his status going forward is very much up in the air.

Baalke, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, has expressed a desire to bring Gore back in 2015, while the 31-year-old tailback, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, is also keen to come to an agreement over a new deal with the 49ers.

San Francisco's offense—which features a fine fullback in Bruce Miller, a physically imposing offensive line and a mobile quarterback that excels in making plays with his legs—is built for the ground game. And for a unit that ranked at No. 20 in the league in total offense, the best solution is surely to bring Gore back and build the game plan around the former Miami Hurricane.

With his combination of toughness, patience and vision, Gore was still the Niners' best offensive player in 2014, and there is no question that San Francisco should do all it can to come to terms with him on a new contract.

So why is re-signing Gore only the No. 3 priority for the 49ers? It is because they already have his disciple and replacement in place. San Francisco selected Carlos Hyde out of Ohio State in the second round of the 2014 draft, and the former Buckeye displayed glimpses of his potential by rushing for 333 yards and four scores in his rookie year.

Hyde has the power and deceptive quickness to inherit the mantle from Gore, while Kendall Hunter—who the 49ers signed to a contract extension in November—has proved himself as a capable backup and is perhaps deserving of the extra playing time should the Niners decide to let their incumbent starter walk.

Furthermore, the 49ers have the option to add depth from a 2015 draft class that looks well stocked at the running back position. Minnesota's David Cobb, Michigan State star Jeremy Langford, Karlos Williams of Florida State and Mississippi State's Josh Robinson are just a few potential later-round options San Francisco could consider.

Gore's departure would mark the end of an era for San Francisco, yet re-signing him is only ranked as the No. 3 priority because the 49ers have the talent at the position to move on and still have an effective run game. However, Gore has shown no signs of slowing down and will be a good mentor for the exciting Hyde. For those reasons, the Niners should make every effort to bring him back.

4. Shore Up the Secondary

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The 49er defense maintained its status as one of the best in the NFL despite injuries to a plethora of players in 2014.

What was particularly impressive about the unit's performance was the play of the secondary. The Niners finished the campaign ranked at No. 5 in passing defense even with starting cornerback Tramaine Brock missing most of the campaign through injury.

Fellow starter Chris Culliver also missed some time and the situation in the secondary was so severe at the end of the season that Leon McFadden—promoted from the practice squad—and free agent Marcus Cromartie ended the campaign on the active roster with both seeing playing time.

When they were all healthy, the Niners' corners played to a very high standard. Culliver finished the year ranked as the No. 14 corner in the league by PFF, while Perrish Cox recorded a tied for league-high five interceptions.

The issue for San Francisco now is that Culliver and Cox are both about to hit free agency, potentially leaving the 49ers thin at a position that has not previously been considered a strength. Expect at least one of that duo to be back in 2015, however, the Niners have another pressing issue on the back end of their defense.

Free safety Eric Reid sustained a concussion in the Week 16 loss to the San Diego Chargers, marking the third time he has sustained such an injury in just two seasons. The 2013 first-round pick has been a key member of the Niners' defense in the past two seasons, but the amount of head injuries he has already stacked up at this early stage in his career is a concern.

Craig Dahl served as Reid's replacement in the season finale with Arizona, and his disappointing performance made it clear for all to see that he is not a capable fill-in at the position. Reid should be the Niners' starter at free safety for years to come; however, San Francisco needs an insurance policy.

The 49ers are still lacking a true shutdown corner, and it is questionable whether they will find one in a 2015 draft that appears short on quality at the position beyond prospective first-rounders Trae Waynes, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Marcus Peters.

Yet this secondary has been able to excel without a star cornerback and, providing that at least one of Culliver or Cox returns, adding a big-play wideout and building depth on the D-Line are more urgent concerns.

Still, entering negotiations with their top corners and finding a capable backup for Reid have to be among the top priorities for San Francisco.

5. Find a Backup Quarterback

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Much has been made of the apparent regression in the play of 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

In 2014 Kaepernick had the best statistical season of his NFL career, throwing for 3,369 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. However, he was widely criticised for displaying a lack of development as a pocket passer.

Kaepernick clearly still has problems in seeing the field and evading pressure and, per Barrows, is going to try to hone his craft in the offseason with Super Bowl XXXIV winner and MVP Kurt Warner.

Yet, while there are still aspects of Kaepernick's game that need work, what has perhaps most affected the 27-year-old's play is that there has been little pressure on his shoulders in terms of competition from the quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart.

When Kaepernick burst onto the scene in 2012 as he took over from Alex Smith, the former Nevada man was playing in part to prove that head coach Jim Harbaugh had made the right decision in going with him as the starter, and he did so in truly spectacular fashion.

In the past two seasons Kaepernick has had nothing in terms of competition from backups, with Colt McCoy serving as his No. 2 in 2013 before Blaine Gabbert took over the role for this season. Would the Niners have considered putting either of those players in as the starter had Kaepernick played badly enough? The answer is an emphatic no.

That is not to say Kaepernick got complacent as the starter, but there is no doubt he could benefit from a better infusion of talent behind him.

There should be some decent options in free agency for the Niners to pursue. The Philadelphia Eagles' Mark Sanchez, Matt Flynn of the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans' Ryan Mallett have all filled in for starters in the past two seasons and are scheduled to hit the open market.

Quarterback does not figure to be a big need in the draft, still, there would be no harm in picking up a project such as the athletic Alabama signal-caller Blake Sims to develop.

Unless the new head coach in San Francisco wants to make a drastic change, Kaepernick is the guy for the 49ers. The Niners have not had a player capable of challenging him since 2012, though, and the time has come for the organization to change that.