San Francisco 49ers: How Free-Agency Activity Has Reshaped Draft Plans

The initial burst of free agency is over, and it’s time to catch our breath and take a look at the bigger picture for a moment.  While there are some quality free agents still available, all of the huge, game-changing names have been signed.  There really isn’t a player out there who would fill a need for any team so much that it would significantly alter its draft strategy going forward.

That means we can take a look at what some of the signings mean for the San Francisco 49ers. 

Sitting in the middle of the draft order, the 49ers' draft options are not only altered by their own moves but also by the moves of the teams around them.  Some teams have taken themselves out of the running for draft choices the 49ers might be looking at thanks to their free-agent acquisitions, and others have slid up to be competitors with the 49ers at other positions as needs have become more acute.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

In other words, a team signing a free agent at a position the 49ers need—say, defensive end or wide receiver—is good, because it takes them out of the draft picture at that position, increasing the odds the 49ers get a good player there. 

A team signing a free agent at a position the 49ers don’t need, on the other hand—say, a 4-3 outside linebacker or offensive tackle—is bad, because it might cause that team to focus on a lesser need that does correspond to what the 49ers are hoping to find in the draft.

Here’s a quick look around the league at which high-profile free-agent acquisitions will most affect the 49ers’ draft-day plans, at least as far as the first couple of rounds go.

San Francisco 49ers

The only need the 49ers have fully filled in free agency is the need for depth at the running back position.

Going from Frank Gore to Reggie Bush is a step down at this point in time, but the trio of Bush, Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter more than satisfy the 49ers’ desire to have a "three-headed" committee in the backfield, a strategy CSNBayArea's Matt Maiocco discussed. Running back was never going to be a high priority on draft day, but Bush’s presence takes the position out of question when it comes to drafting for need.

Torrey Smith also dampens the 49ers’ need for a wide receiver but not as much as you’d think.  Smith is an above-average second receiver, but he's not really a true No. 1 at this point.  Anquan Boldin is a low-tier top receiver, but he’s on the last year of his deal and could very well retire after the season is over.  Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton are unproven, and Jerome Simpson is unreliable.

I’ve posited that the 49ers could have used two of their first three picks at receiver, and Smith’s signing takes that possibility off the board.  It doesn’t take them out of the market for a receiver at all, however, and I could still easily see them grabbing a receiver with the 15th overall pick, if one of the top three falls to them. 

Smith gives them more flexibility, however, allowing them to possibly address the defensive line with the first pick and save the receiver position for the second round.  I wouldn’t put it off much longer than that, however, if I was in charge of the 49ers’ draft plans.

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

As this article goes to print, ESPN.com's Mark Fainaru-Waka and Steve Fainaru are reporting that Chris Borland, speaking during an interview with Outside the Lines, is opting to retire after just one season.

Coupled with Patrick Willis' retirement, the 49ers have gone from one of the best inside linebacking corps in the league to one filled with question marks.  The 49ers do still have some players at the position, as NaVorro Bowman will be back and Michael Wilhoite was re-signed, but it does make an entry onto the draft-day strategy, possibly even with a first-round pick.

Moves that May Help the 49ers

Whenever another 3-4 team signs a defensive end, it helps the 49ers.  Washington boosted its defensive line across the board, adding Stephen Paea, Terrance Knighton and Ricky Jean-Francois to upgrade Barry Cofield and Jarvis Jenkins. 

Washingon had occasionally been linked with Danny Shelton in the first round—ESPN.com's John Keim listed him as someone the team could target—and while he still won’t fall to the 49ers, taking one team out of the defensive line race raises the odds that one of the first-round talents will fall to No. 15.  It also likely prevents the team from taking, say, Preston Smith at the top of Round 2, in case the 49ers wait until the second round to address Justin Smith's potential retirement.

The New York Jets had a clear need at receiver, and they seemed likely to select one if one of the top two quarterbacks fell to them at No. 6.  However, they traded a fifth-round pick for Brandon Marshall, and I just can’t see them doubling down at the position with a first- or second-round selection now. 

They need offensive line help...they need linebackers...they need a running back—another top receiver would be a luxury they just can’t afford now, even after releasing Percy Harvin.

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Seattle trading its first-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for Jimmy Graham will hurt the 49ers on the field—now they have to cover Graham twice a year!—but it should help in the draft. 

The Seattle Seahawks seemed likely to upgrade their corps of Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Chris Matthews.  Now that their first pick isn’t until No. 63, the 49ers don’t need to worry about a Dorial Green-Beckam ending up in Seattle.  New Orleans’ needs don’t really line up with San Francisco’s at all, so that’s definitely an upgrade.

Moves that May Hurt the 49ers

The Tennessee Titans revamped their pass rush with the signing of Brian Orakpo, All-Pro linebacker and injury magnet.  Coupled with the signing of Derrick Morgan, it knocks pass-rusher down on their list of priorities.  That frees them up to address their porous offensive line in the second round, which is where they could bump into the 49ers. 

A.J. Cann and Laken Tomlinson are a couple of second-round-caliber guards, and both could be on the 49ers’ radar as long-term replacements for Mike Iupati.  The Titans might end up making a move for one of those players now that they can focus more on protecting whoever starts under center for them in 2015.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Oakland Raiders' need at wide receiver has been well documented, so they could have been considering taking Amari Cooper or Kevin White with the fourth overall pick. However, I figured they had other equally pressing needs that they might try to fill beforehand.  I still think they’ll opt for an offensive tackle or defensive end on Day 1, but they’ve done a good enough job in free agency filling other needs to bring receiver back into play, especially in the second round.

Rodney Hudson fills their void in the middle of the offensive line, Dan Williams gives them a big run-stuffer in the middle and players such as Curtis Lofton and Malcom Smith should shore up their linebacking corps.

The receiving corps, then, is the biggest area they haven’t really addressed yet.  I could easily see them taking a Breshad Perriman or Sammie Coates in Round 2, which would hurt the 49ers if they pass up on a first-round receiver.

The Atlanta Falcons are likely going to mostly focus on defense in the draft, which should suit the 49ers fine—new head coach Dan Quinn is likely to build a Seattle-style front seven in Atlanta, which doesn’t match the 49ers’ needs. 

However, the Falcons have been hard at work doing just that, adding Justin Durant, Brooks Reed and Adrian Clayborn already.  If they deal with defense enough in free agency, they could start looking into offense in the first couple of rounds. 

They need to replace Justin Blalock at offensive guard, and they’ve never really replaced Tony Gonzalez at tight end.  These could be second-round picks that the 49ers also could be looking at, such as tight ends Maxx Williams or Clive Walford.

Bryan Knowles is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers.  Follow him @BryKno on Twitter.