The San Francisco 49ers' Ultimate Free Agency to-Do List

The start of free agency is just two weeks away, and for the San Francisco 49ers, it signals the start of a period that could be one of the most crucial in the recent history of the franchise.

San Francisco has a number of holes to fill and players scheduled to hit the open market, and, if new head coach Jim Tomsula is going to be a success, the Niners will likely require a strong performance in free agency.

Signing out-of-contract players for big money has not been the 49ers' style under general manager Trent Baalke, who is unlikely to change his approach despite San Francisco's relative struggles in the 2014 season.

Baalke has stuck to a philosophy of trying to re-sign the Niners' own impending free agents and then replacing those who decide to go elsewhere for a more affordable price.

Keeping hold of their own will be the main priority again for the 49ers, but after an 8-8 season it is clear San Francisco also needs new blood in the form of players who can immediately help the team get back to winning ways in a tough NFC West division. Here I break down the top priorities for Baalke and the front-office staff in free agency.

Re-Sign Chris Culliver

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One of the main reasons the 49ers defense continued to enjoy success in the 2014 season was the play of the secondary, which performed above preseason expectations.

The Niners finished the campaign at No. 5 in pass defense in yards allowed; however, the core of that group figures to be affected by free agency, with cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver set to hit the open market.

Given the 49ers' limited room for maneuver in terms of cap space—they are set to be over $3 million under the 2015 salary cap—the likelihood is that only one, Cox or Culliver, will be back with the team. And—despite the former's five interceptions last season—it is Culliver who should be the 49ers' top priority in free agency, even ahead of star running back Frank Gore.

At 6'0" and 199 pounds, Culliver has the length for the position and combines his impressive frame with good speed to maintain tight coverage, which was reflected in his +8.2 coverage grade for the season from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him as the No. 14 cornerback in the NFL in 2014.

Culliver also showcased his ball skills by ending the year with four interceptions and, after bouncing back from a 2013 season he watched from the sidelines due to injury, the former South Carolina Gamecock should be looking to receive a pay increase.

His off-the-field troubles, including a felony charge of possession of brass knuckles and two misdemeanor charges in connection with a collision with a cyclist last March, may lead the 49ers to decide Culliver is not worth a new, more lucrative deal.

However, Culliver has proven to be a valuable player in the secondary since being drafted in 2011, and for a team with a lot of holes to fill already, the Niners cannot afford to lose him.

Re-Sign Frank Gore

Away from the coaching changes, the majority of the talk surrounding the 49ers this offseason has concerned whether Gore will be back with the team for the 2015 season.

San Francisco's all-time leading rusher is a free agent for the first time in his career and, despite recording his eighth 1,000-yard season in 2014, is far from guaranteed to re-sign with the Niners. However, the positive news for 49ers fans is that musings from Gore on social media appear to have started a dialogue between the two parties.

Gore last week posted a picture on Instagram complete with a caption that questioned the Niners management's faith in him. That post, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, paved the way for a telephone conversation between Baalke and Gore regarding his future with the team.

Negotiations still seem to be in their infancy at this point, but what is clear is the 49ers want Gore to return and likely end his career with the team. The sticking point, though, could be Gore's salary demands.

The 31-year-old, per CBSSports' Jason La Canfora, is seeking $4 million a year. La Canfora reported that league sources have indicated his best shot of receiving such a sum would be with the 49ers; however, for a player reaching the twilight of his career, Baalke and San Francisco may not be willing to shell out such sums of money.

There is also the question of Gore's role going forward, with Carlos Hyde in the conversation to be the starter next year after a decent rookie season. If he stays with the Niners, Gore can expect Hyde to eat further into his touches even if he does not win the starting job.

For a deal to happen, the two sides will probably need to reach a compromise on Gore's financial demands and his role for the 2015 campaign.

Regardless of whether that happens, San Francisco should look to take advantage of a strong tailback class and add another in the draft to shore up the future of its backfield. But for the moment, the Niners need to focus on locking up a player who is not only an excellent mentor for Hyde but one who has an excellent record of consistent production and still possesses the tools to be a top running back in the NFL. 

Solidify Outside Linebacker

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The outside linebacker position is one with more questions than answers for the 49ers.

Yes, San Francisco has one of the best pass-rushers in the league in Aldon Smith and a promising youngster in Aaron Lynch, who has displayed a proficiency for getting after the quarterback, but beyond that duo the Niners' depth at the position looks sketchy at best.

Ahmad Brooks, who is projected to account for over $7 million in cap space in 2015, is a candidate to be let go as the 49ers seek to save money. And, with Dan Skuta set to hit free agency, that would leave Corey Lemonier as their only other option at the position outside of Smith and Lynch.

There is the possibility that San Francisco at least occasionally moves either Patrick Willis or NaVorro Bowman to the outside to accommodate fellow inside backer Chris Borland following his outstanding rookie year. That is far from a feasible permanent solution, though, and—although the 49ers could pursue an edge rusher in the draft—the position is in need of solidification in free agency.

Re-signing Skuta would help do that. With 18 starts in the last two years, he has proved a valuable fill-in for Smith in recent times and had five sacks in 2014, grading as PFF's No. 29 outside linebacker. 

Skuta is versatile enough to play on either side of the defense in the 49ers' base 3-4. However, considering that Brooks may be on his way out, further reinforcements could well be required.

The Niners may look to the draft to add further depth, yet they are unlikely to find a player who can be an immediate starter as a three-down backer in this class. Instead, the 49ers should look to free agency, where there are some affordable and dependable options set to hit the open market.

Sam Acho of the Arizona Cardinals has the ability to come in to start in a 3-4 straight away, as does Jabaal Sheard of the Cleveland Browns, whose production dropped off in 2014 but—with 23 sacks in four seasons—is still very impressive.

At inside linebacker the Niners are one of the strongest teams in the league. If they want to be able to say the same about their outside backers, then it is imperative the right moves are made in free agency.

Bring in Tight End Help

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Up until last season, the 49ers had long gotten consistent production from the tight end position. However, in 2014, starter Vernon Davis suffered a dramatic downturn in form, recording just 26 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came on the opening weekend of the campaign.

Davis' struggles were key to the lack of spark on the Niners offense, which has struggled since ranking at No. 11 in points and yardage en route to Super Bowl XLVII.

One of the correlations between the Niners' offensive problems in the last two years is the departure of tight end Delanie Walker, who left for the Tennessee Titans after San Francisco's Super Bowl loss and has never been adequately replaced.

The decline of Davis last year was magnified with no second-string tight end to pick up the slack and give the Niners the versatility Walker offered during his time in the Bay.

With Davis set to count toward almost $7 million of the 49ers' cap space in 2015 following a dismal season, there has been talk of San Francisco cutting ties with the two-time Pro Bowler. That suggestion, per Barrows, has since been dismissed by Baalke, who should now be eyeing another tight end in free agency to complement the former Maryland Terrapin.

And there are plenty of strong candidates for the Niners to pursue. Julius Thomas of the Denver Broncos is well out of their price range, but it will be interesting to see whether Baalke would make an exception to his rule of not making big free-agent splashes to bring in Jordan Cameron, who was still able to average 17.7 yards per reception with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 despite missing six games.

Cameron, per La Canfora, does not wish to re-sign with Cleveland, while The Cincinnati Enquirer believes there is a strong possibility the Bengals' Jermaine Gresham will hit the open market, presenting the 49ers with another exciting, if often injury-prone, option at the position.

Owen Daniels of the Baltimore Ravens would be a solid veteran acquisition at tight end, and, with the experienced Tony Sparano coaching the position in 2015, it makes sense for the 49ers to put a lot of emphasis on adding more talent for him to work with as they attempt to reinvigorate their offense.

Find a Solid Backup Quarterback

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Despite a disappointing 2014 season, Colin Kaepernick remains the guy at quarterback in San Francisco.

That is not surprising given the commitment the 49ers made to Kaepernick with a new contract last season, but while the management still believes in its starter, the situation at backup quarterback is one in need of a resolution. 

Last term Blaine Gabbert was the primary backup with Josh Johnson serving as the team's third quarterback. Neither of those players was likely to put any pressure on an underperforming Kaepernick and would probably have struggled if pressed into service by an injury to San Francisco's starter.

Gabbert and Johnson do not figure to be back with the Niners in 2015, and it is essential San Francisco makes a move to sign a deputy who would at least give the team the chance to remain competitive should Kaepernick go down.

Jake Locker is set to hit free agency, with Zach Mettenberger seemingly now the guy in Tennessee, and has the bonus of starter experience and decent mobility. The same can also be said for Christian Ponder and Tarvaris Jackson, who experienced varying degrees of success in their respective spells as starters with the Minnesota Vikings.

Matt Moore of the Miami Dolphins is also sure to generate a fair amount of buzz on the open market, while Ryan Mallett has significant experience as a backup. The quarterback free-agent class is far from spectacular, but there are plenty of players available who are better options than Gabbert and Johnson, and the Niners would be well served by going out and signing one.

Give Kaepernick Another Weapon at Wideout

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Undoubtedly the 49ers' biggest need in the offseason is the wide receiver position.

Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd are set to hit the open market and are not anticipated to re-sign with San Francisco, leaving the Niners with just four wideouts on their depth chart.

Anquan Boldin has back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in his time in the Bay but, at 34, it is questionable how long he can maintain that kind of form. Stevie Johnson projects as the other starter at the position; however, he is due to earn $5.5 million in base salary and is a potential cap casualty candidate.

Bruce Ellington could be in line for an increased role in 2015, yet both he and Quinton Patton remain unproven, and it is obvious the Niners need to acquire more quality depth at wideout in order to give Kaepernick more to work with in the passing game.

San Francisco is expected to pursue at least one receiver in a draft that is loaded at the position. There is no guarantee of a rookie's success, though, and—with Johnson possibly on his way out—the smart move would be to use free agency to bring in another experienced pass-catcher.

Torrey Smith would be a useful vertical threat but will more than likely be too expensive for the 49ers to consider. More viable options include Kenny Britt, although ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner expects him to re-sign with the St. Louis Rams, and possession receivers Nate Washington and Eddie Royal, who—after a strong season with the San Diego Chargers—could become an effective receiver in the slot for an offense seeking a substantial upturn from last season's struggles.

All salary cap information courtesy of Over The Cap.

Nicholas McGee is a San Francisco 49ers Featured Columnist based in Leeds, England. Follow him on Twitter @nicholasmcgee24.