Despite Offensive Struggles, Should Defense Be 49ers' Top Draft Priority?

The San Francisco 49ers offense does not exactly have a reputation that instills fear into its opponents.

Such was the case in 2014 when the 25th-ranked 49ers offense generated just 304 points. The passing game—never a strength during the tenure of former-head coach Jim Harbaugh—ranked No. 30 in the league with just 3,063 yards through the air.

Speculation and need would lead most to believe that general manager Trent Baalke and the new 49ers coaching staff under head coach Jim Tomsula would target the offense first in the 2015 NFL draft. There are more than enough reasons for this.

But the overall strength of the 49ers roster in recent seasons has not been on the offensive side of the ball. 

It's been on defense.

Credit: StatMilk.com

This defense has already been subjected to changes prior to the offseason. Additional shifts and departures are on the horizon. And with the release of former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, along with a sizable portion of the defensive coaching staff, one has to wonder how effective this particular unit will be in 2015.

The 49ers are slated with the No. 15 pick in Round 1 of the draft. Who would be the ideal target for Baalke and Co. as the team boasts its highest selection since 2011?

A wide receiver—perhaps the likes of West Virginia's Kevin White, ASU's Jaelen Strong or Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham—could easily be the first player taken by San Francisco.

But Baalke has shown that he isn't always willing to go with conventional wisdom. The 49ers had a similar need for a speedy wideout a year ago. Last year's wide receiver prospect pool was much deeper than this year's, but the 49ers did not tap into that talent until Round 4 when they selected wideout Bruce Ellington.

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Instead, Baalke's first-round choice was defensive back Jimmie Ward.

San Francisco's defense enters 2015 with plenty of questions aside from just the coaching staff. The defensive line has already gone through a shake-up following the release of defensive end Ray McDonald after his alleged involvement in a sexual assault case. Fellow end Justin Smith has hinted at retirement.

On top of that, the 49ers secondary is facing a possible departure of two impact cornerbacks via free agency. Defensive backs Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver—who ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in team interceptions this year—are set to hit the open market. It's anyone's guess whether San Francisco can retain their services.

There are some stopgap solutions, though. Second-year defensive end Tank Carradine could benefit from an increased role in 2015. He may have to in McDonald's absence. The 49ers also have some depth at defensive tackle. Defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey, Quinton Dial and Ian Williams offer some options here, if necessary.

In the defensive backfield, San Francisco will hopefully enjoy the healthy return of No. 1 cornerback Tramaine Brock after what was largely a lost season. Young players like Ward, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Kenneth Acker are also poised to have larger roles next year.

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Still, one cannot understate the necessity of a strong defense. Fans can recall how the 49ers defense essentially kept the team in games throughout the majority of 2014. With the offense sputtering, it fell on the defense to try and hold the line.

And then there are the concerns surrounding how effective Tomsula will be at the helm. The defensive-minded head coach has plenty of work cut out for him aside from just trying to find effective coordinators. He'll be tasked with replicating the defensive success in the wake of Fangio—certainly no easy task considering the defense ranked in the top five during the latter's tenure.

But do these priorities call for a shift in thinking—one that ranks the defense ahead of the offense in Round 1 of the draft?

The short answer has to be no.

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Yet not everyone agrees on this. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports actually has defense as San Francisco's first-round priority. His selection for the 49ers is Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton.

Shelton is one of many pass-rushers who could help reinforce a crop of such like linebackers Aaron Lynch and Aldon Smith. But this class is deep, so it's feasible the 49ers could wait a round or two before addressing this need.

So that notion puts the offense back on top of the priority list.

It makes sense as to why. While the defense has some legitimate question marks this offseason, this unit does have a substantial amount of depth. That depth was tested to a large degree in 2014 due to a flurry of injuries, yet San Francisco's defense still ranked No. 5 in the league in fewest yards allowed (5,143).

Much of that depth will carry over into next season. The same cannot be said about the offense.

Wide receiver remains a top-priority issue. Like last season, the 49ers lack a true deep threat. Aside from the scantly used Ellington, no one at this position really offers the necessary speed to take tops off opposing defenses. It showed, and the 49ers passing game suffered as a result.

On top of that, wide receiver Michael Crabtree likely won't return to the 49ers, as he is also set to hit the free-agent market this offseason.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Fellow wideout Anquan Boldin, who is 34 years old, also has just one year remaining on his current contract, which prompts the need for a long-term solution.

This is the thought offered by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, via Taylor Price of 49ers.com:

"

I think wide receiver is the priority, absolutely, because of (Michael Crabtree’s pending) free agency and the age of Anquan Boldin, and the needs there. I still think like last year that speed is so important for the 49ers, finding someone who can stretch the field and let (Colin Kaepernick) use his arm strength. For that reason, I think (West Virginia’s) Kevin White is a better fit for what the 49ers do. I have (DeVante Parker and White) ranked No. 9 and 10 overall. They basically have the same grade from me. I don’t think either one is the wrong pick, but in terms of a team that needs to add some speed, I think White is a better fit. 

"

Miller's mentioning of Parker and White prompts speculation whether either player would be around by the time San Francisco selects at No. 15. Perhaps they are, or perhaps they aren't. There are some other considerations for this position, such as Strong or Green-Beckham.

Still, the offense needs to be considered the top priority for San Francisco in the upcoming draft. Stating that it will be suggests we can predict the future, which we cannot. Remember, Baalke went defense first in 2014 when the offense had legitimate needs.

But if this action repeats itself again in 2015, and the 49ers put off their need to help out the passing game, San Francisco's offense will be set up for even more problems in the upcoming season.

And that wouldn't be the best of starts for this new era of 49ers football.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Spotrac.com.

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.

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