49ers Draft Needs: Where Does San Francisco Need Help Most?

A new and undetermined coaching regime for the San Francisco 49ers will ultimately have a lot of influence in determining exactly how the franchise approaches the 2015 NFL draft.

San Francisco is slated to have the No. 15 overall pick in this year's draft. General manager Trent Baalke will have a total of nine picks with which to work. That number is contingent on two expected compensatory picks and could change based on additional transactions between now and the draft.

Still, the 49ers do have some pressing needs this offseason aside from selecting a head coach and his staff.

Whoever takes over will have a part in the decision-making process. Yet the needs of the team remain largely the same. It's only in the interpretation of how to meet these where there could be some differences.

Let's rank the top pressing needs San Francisco faces approaching this draft. Special attention will be given to the specifics of each need—likely free-agent departures, cap casualties, scheme, etc. Of course we can't evaluate the need without looking at some potential draft targets who fit the bill, right?

Notable Needs but Not as Pressing

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The running back position becomes a priority if veteran Frank Gore signs elsewhere in 2015.

There will be a certain extent of fluidity in determining the 49ers' needs this upcoming draft. 

For instance, there is a realistic possibility that 35-year-old defensive end Justin Smith could retire before 2015. Combine that with the release of fellow end Ray McDonald for alleged involvement in a sexual assault case, and suddenly the defensive line becomes a major question mark.

The same could be said about the cornerback position. Starting corners Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox are entering free agency, and it's possible that neither returns. While the 49ers have considerable developmental depth here, this position was tested by injury attrition like no other this year.

A number of other positions could be subject to fluctuation depending on the 49ers' offseason actions.

We'll get a better picture based on Trent Baalke's actions regarding his own free agents and potential free-agent targets during the offseason. But with the 49ers pressed up against the salary cap in 2015—potentially just $2,195,902 under the cap, per Jason Hurley of Niners Nation—one shouldn't expect too many splashy offseason signings.

These positions require some attention, but they certainly aren't the highest priority:

Backup Quarterback

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick will be the No. 1 guy in 2015. The question will be whether the new head coach sees Kaepernick as the legitimate long-term option for the franchise moving forward. 

While 2015 might be the make-or-break year for Kaepernick, the 49ers would be wise to draft a project QB later in the rounds. A high-pick flier isn't necessary, which obviously rules out some of the bigger names, but a late-round option could be worth a shot.

A developmental prospect would help put some pressure on Kaepernick and force him to develop beyond what was seen in 2014.

Running Back

31-year-old veteran Frank Gore wants to play in 2015. He's also stated that he wants to return, and Baalke has expressed similar sentiments, per CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco.

"

Frank Gore: "I want to be back here." http://t.co/HojW1Olxt9 pic.twitter.com/yQpvsttmxR

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 29, 2014"

Contract discussions and the development of No. 2 back Carlos Hyde could impinge this. While Hyde may eventually work his way into the featured role—and the team can count upon the return of running back Kendall Hunter next year—the 49ers might want to consider drafting another back if Gore is not in San Francisco next season.

Tight End

No. 1 tight end Vernon Davis was virtually a non-factor in 2014. A hefty 2015 salary could make the 30-year-old veteran a cap casualty during the offseason.

And it isn't as if the 49ers have a legitimate backup plan in place. No. 2 tight end Vance McDonald has been largely ineffective as a pass-catcher over his two-year pro career, and the tandem of Garrett Celek and Derek Carrier isn't exactly a top-tier replacement.

The problem with replacing Davis is that the 2015 prospect class doesn't offer a lot by the way of high-profile tight ends who would fit the bill.

Free agency also doesn't sound like a plausible option given San Francisco's cap restraints.

Davis could stick around for one more season, and the 49ers might look to 2016 to address any long-term solution.

No. 4 Need: Offensive Line

Dave Martin/Associated Press

Offensive guard Arie Kouandjio from Alabama could be a decent option to reinforce San Francisco's O-line.

Like most of these positions, the offensive line will be determined by how the 49ers approach free agency and their depth during the offseason.

Left guard Mike Iupati will likely depart as he seeks to become one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL in 2015. The 49ers simply cannot afford to re-sign him.

But signs point to San Francisco having already established a backup plan. 

One-year veteran O-lineman Marcus Martin probably won't have to play center in 2015. That position will be reserved for Daniel Kilgore—arguably the most consistent lineman for the team prior to his Week 7 leg injury that derailed his season.

Martin, who can play both guard positions, will compete alongside 2014 draftee Brandon Thomas, whom the 49ers selected—and subsequently redshirted—in the third round of the same year.

Both are talented yet developing O-linemen. But there is a possibility that neither works out to the expected level the 49ers had when they drafted each player. Plus, the establishment of depth here wouldn't hurt the long-term plans of the franchise.

San Francisco may be forced to part ways with veteran guard Alex Boone in 2016. His holdout prior to this year suggests he'll be seeking big money after the upcoming season, and it's worth speculating that the 49ers will search for a replacement.

Searching now isn't a bad idea.

Potential Targets

Arie Kouandjio, Alabama

The 6'5", 315-pound Arie Kouandjio out of Alabama would be an enticing early- to mid-round prospect who would allow the 49ers to spend their top pick on an impact player.

He's got the body of an effective lineman but is a bit raw, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports.

Miles Dieffenbach, Penn State

The Big Ten guard from Penn State has a skill set that translates well over toward the NFL level, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports. Miles Dieffenbach is also projected as a fourth-round pick, which also gives the 49ers some benefit to using their early-round picks on bigger needs.

No. 3 Need: Cornerback

Deciding whether to re-sign cornerbacks Chris Culliver and/or Perrish Cox will largely impact San Francisco's approach in its secondary this draft.

The decision will also be influenced by the continued development of young defensive backs like Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Kenneth Acker. All four could at some point emerge as legitimate contenders for a starting job.

But 2015 revealed just how quick this position can thin out. Among the injured defensive backs were Ward, Reaser, Acker, Culliver, Cox, Chris Cook and Eric Reid—all of whom missed varying amounts of time this season.

Stockpiling effective cornerbacks is never a bad idea. Plus there is the thought that Ward would be better suited to move back to his natural position at safety instead of being the slot corner where he is now.

Potential Targets

Trae Waynes, Michigan State

While the 49ers might target a playmaking wide receiver in the first round of the 2015 draft, it's not impossible to overlook the notion that an impact cornerback could find his way to San Francisco in Round 1.

Michigan State's Trae Waynes is ranked as the No. 1 cornerback available in the draft, per CBS Sports, and Bleacher Report's Matt Miller and Stephen Nelson break down why he'd be a good fit for the 49ers in the above video.

Alex Carter, Stanford

At 6'0" and 200 pounds, cornerback Alex Carter has the physicality and size to translate over to the NFL level. While he does get too aggressive at times, per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, this projected Round 2 prospect could easily fall to the 49ers after their first pick.

Quandre Diggs, Texas

Should the 49ers wait until the latter rounds of the draft to address this positional need, one option who comes to mind is cornerback Quandre Diggs out of Texas. The 5'10", 204-pound defensive back might not be that big, but Brugler cites him as the best cornerback coming out of the Big 12 conference.

Diggs would be an enticing option if the 49ers eventually feel that Ward is best suited for a return to the safety position.

No. 2 Need: Defensive Line

Wade Payne/Associated Press

DE Alvin Dupree could be available for the 49ers in Round 1 should they go with a defense-first philosophy.

In-season news pushed San Francisco's defensive line needs up the ladder of focal points in 2015.

Veteran defensive end Justin Smith might retire. Fellow DE Ray McDonald is already gone. Exactly who will fill into these perennial defensive stalwarts' steads?

Second-year pro Tank Carradine is an easy option. Developmental setbacks kept him inactive for most of the first half in 2014, but the talented pass-rusher worked his way into the rotation later in the season. He finished the year with three sacks, and the 49ers obviously hope he can be a mainstay of the defense for years to come.

But this solves just one of two questions. It's feasible that San Francisco shifts one of its three potentially starting defensive tackles over to end: Quinton Dial, Glenn Dorsey or Ian Williams.

This could be a temporary fix, but finding a long-term solution who can maintain effective pressure from the outside is a must.

Possible Targets

Alvin Dupree, Kentucky

A defense-first approach from the new coaching regime could prompt San Francisco into selecting a talented defender in Round 1.

With top names like defensive ends Randy Gregory and Shane Ray off the board, a player like Kentucky's Alvin Dupree could be available at No. 15. 

Dupree is 6'4" and 264 pounds, and while he could add some bulk to his frame, the talented edge-rusher has great technique having competed within the SEC, per Rob Rang of CBS Sports.

Those abilities netted him 24 sacks in four years with the Wildcats.

Arik Armstead, Oregon

At 6'8" and 290 pounds, Oregon defensive end Arik Armstead is a beast of a player. The talented junior is projected as a Round 2 selection, per CBS Sports, which could give the 49ers some flexibility if they choose to spend their first-round pick to upgrade the offense.

Markus Golden, Missouri

A third-round target who could be an impact player in the near future is Missouri's Markus Golden. The 6'3", 260-pound Golden racked up nine sacks in 2014 and has the skill set that should translate over into the NFL level.

While not an intimidating pass-rusher, Rang and Dane Brugler of CBS Sports suggest that Golden can be an every-down type of defender.

No. 1 Need: Wide Receiver

The 49ers need speed on offense.

San Francisco's 30th-ranked passing offense isn't intimidating anyone with its crop of slow receiving targets. While big-bodied veterans like Anquan Boldin are nice, the lack of speed has hindered the ability to spread out opponents' defenses.

With wide receiver Michael Crabtree likely gone via free agency, the door is opened for a top-tier playmaker to assist not only with the speed factor, but also to emerge as a bona fide red-zone threat.

San Francisco needs both.

Tight end Vernon Davis used to be this guy. He wasn't in 2014. While that could be a one-year anomaly, the 49ers still need to search for long-term option at the receiver position when considering the age and contract situation of players like Boldin.

Despite their other pressing needs, the 49ers have to establish themselves on offense in 2015. San Francisco could return to a ground-first attack under a new head coach, but the need to add a speedy playmaker simply looms larger than any other shortcoming.

Possible Targets

Kevin White, West Virginia

Top receiving prospects like Alabama's Amari Cooper and Louisville's DeVante Parker will likely be off the boards when San Francisco selects at No. 15 in Round 1.

West Virginia's Kevin White is the next-best option.

At 6'3 and 209 pounds, White has the size that makes him an enticing red-zone target. While not as fast as players like Cooper and Parker, White's speed is good enough to improve San Francisco's options at this position. He could easily fit into the team's long-term plans and emerge as a top-tier target.

Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma

At 6'5" and 225 pounds, Oklahoma wideout Dorial Green-Beckham is an even bigger red-zone threat. He also has better speed than White, which would fit into San Francisco's overall needs at this position.

But Dane Brugler of CBS Sports points out that Green-Beckham has some work-ethic and off-the-field issues that resulted in him being released by Missouri and playing his final year at Oklahoma. The 49ers might want to avoid another player of this nature given what has happened within the franchise of late, but there is no doubting his pure talent.

Jaelen Strong, ASU

Wideout Jaelen Strong out of ASU is another enticing first-round possibility who combines both speed and size. He could feasibly fall into Round 2, as projected by CBS Sports.

There's a rawness to Strong's game, but the physical attributes are undeniably there.

Phillip Dorsett, Miami

It's doubtful the 49ers will wait until Round 4 to address this position. It's also possible San Francisco targets two wideouts in this draft class given the uncertainty and needs here.

Miami receiver Phillip Dorsett is 5'10" and 185 pounds, which obviously makes him a bit undersized for a top-tier wideout. But he does possess breakneck speed—an element that could benefit the 49ers offense.

San Francisco has a small-sized speedster in wideout Bruce Ellington. But if the 49ers feel he is best served as just a return man, Dorsett could be given a late-round flier.

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These needs will change as the months and weeks count down before the 2015 NFL draft. Free agency, trades and even retirements could alter the specifics regarding San Francisco's approach.

A new coaching staff will also cast influence upon the decision-making process as the team looks to retool after its 8-8 campaign this season.

Many of these tools will be found during the draft. 

It will be interesting to see how general manager Trent Baalke and the 49ers approach this draft class. While not as deep as last season, there are plenty of enticing targets who could emerge into studs for the Red and Gold.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Supplemental draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.