Need vs. Value Is Biggest Challenge Facing 49ers GM Trent Baalke in 2015 Draft

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is just four weeks away from what is the biggest draft of his career with the franchise.

Events during the offseason have placed a mountain of pressure on Baalke to get this year's draft right. The Niners have lost key pieces on both sides of the ball. Linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland both called it a career, while defensive backs Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox earned paydays with the Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans after impressive play in 2014.

On offense, guard Mike Iupati is now with the Arizona Cardinals, and former starting running back Frank Gore has linked up with the Indianapolis Colts. And, although signings such as those of wide receiver Torrey Smith and defensive end Darnell Dockett have balanced things out somewhat, the Niners have plenty of holes to address in the 2015 draft.

Receiver is still an area of some concern, as is the inside linebacker spot and a cornerback position where the 49ers appear to be lacking in quality if not depth.

However, the issue Baalke faces is that he has rarely drafted based on need during his tenure with the Niners. Indeed, their philosophy under Baalke has predominantly been to draft and develop players while finding value and building on the team's strengths.

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Baalke has deviated from that plan on occasion in recent times. 2011 saw him boost a San Francisco pass rush that had put up just 36 sacks in the previous campaign by selecting outside linebacker Aldon Smith. In 2013, he filled an immediate hole by moving up in the draft to select LSU free safety Eric Reid as a direct replacement for Dashon Goldson.

There could even be an argument that Baalke drafted for need in the first round of last year's draft by taking Jimmie Ward to play the slot cornerback role. However, given Ward's ability to play safety, that selection appears to have been made with the future in mind, knowing that Antoine Bethea will likely only be a short-term solution at strong safety.

It only takes a quick inspection of the 49ers' 2014 class to get a window into how Baalke approaches the draft. The 49ers had no immediate need for a running back, linebacker, offensive lineman or pass-rusher last year, but Borland's unexpected retirement aside, Baalke's decision to add depth at those positions is looking increasingly prescient.

Second-round pick Carlos Hyde is to take over for Gore in the backfield, Brandon Thomas and Marcus Martin are both candidates to assume Iupati's left guard job, and Aaron Lynch figures to have an increased role after impressing in his rookie season, posting six sacks.

With Thomas and Martin both third-round selections and Lynch a fifth-round choice, there can be little doubt that, in the 2014 draft at least, Baalke has proved adept at finding value throughout the rounds.

So why is there so much pressure on a general manager who is clearly well versed in how this draft thing works? There are two reasons. The first is that this year has become more about finding immediate contributors than developmental prospects who may need a year or two before they can make an impact.

San Francisco, despite the presence of Michael Wilhoite to play alongside NaVorro Bowman, needs an inside linebacker who can slot in right away and could use a wideout to take some of the strain off Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, with B/R's Matt Miller speculating that the Niners are considering a trade up for former Alabama star Amari Cooper in the first round.

Should Justin Smith retire, the Niners will also likely require a defensive lineman who can carry some of the workload in rotation up front for a group that lost another talented player in Ray McDonald late last season.

The second factor that has placed added pressure on Baalke is the coaching change. The switch from Jim Harbaugh to former defensive line coach Jim Tomsula generated an understandable fan backlash and gives the Niners a short window in which to prove they made the right decision, especially when owner Jed York makes brash statements about hanging Super Bowl banners.

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It's up to us to make sure we compete for and win Super Bowls. That's our only goal. We don't raise division championships banners. We don't raise NFC Championship banners. We raise Super Bowl banners. And whenever we don't deliver that, I hope that you will hold me directly responsible and accountable for it. We look forward to getting this thing back on track and getting you guys exactly what you deserve.

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And yet, in spite of all that, Baalke obviously still has to have one eye on the future when using the nine picks San Francisco has in this year's draft. Any receiver taken early will be a waste if he does not have the potential to take over for an aging Boldin as the top wideout on the depth chart. It would also be fair to suggest that the Niners could benefit from having a tight end capable of stepping in for Vernon Davis, whose career looked to be on the downswing last season.

Additionally, Reid has had three concussions in two seasons, and it would be a smart move on the part of the Niners to draft another safety to give them multiple options at the position should he be sidelined in the future.

That, in essence, is the balancing act Baalke will have to perform. The best drafts are based on value and building on strengths. While it is too early to suggest that he nailed it in 2014, the early signs for that class have been good. In 2015, though, Baalke will need to shift his focus somewhat given San Francisco's multiple areas of need, but he should not do so at the expense of value.

A skilled manipulator of the draft board, Baalke has unearthed gems in the mid-to-late rounds before and has to believe that he can find steals capable of having a major impact again. Furthermore, he must have some faith in the prospects he has previously selected to be able to take the next step and justify their worth following a tumultuous offseason.

Under normal circumstances following a coaching change, this would be a transition year for the Niners. But the talent on the roster, the success of previous years and the bold words of the owner have placed enormous pressure on the team to win now.

In order for the 49ers to be successful in 2015, the holes on the roster need to be filled one way or another. Still, the situation is not serious enough for Baalke to feel like he has to drastically move away from his philosophy. On the contrary, what the Niners need more than anything right now is to demonstrate that this is a franchise with a clear plan in mind and convince fans to remain hopeful for the coming season and beyond.

The 49ers are a talented team requiring a boost with a solid draft. Of course their weaknesses must be addressed; however, it has to be done at the right cost. Need should never trump value, and Baalke would be best served to remember that come draft day.