5 Moves San Francisco 49ers Should Have Made This Offseason

The San Francisco 49ers made some excellent moves this offseason.

The best was signing free-agent wide receiver Torrey Smith. The Niners needed a deep-threat receiver to complement possession receiver Anquan Boldin and to open up the running game for running back Carlos Hyde

Another excellent move was drafting former Virginia outside linebacker Eli Harold in Round 3.

Before the draft, CBSSports.com ranked Harold the 35th-best prospect in the draft—an early-second-round grade. During OTAs and minicamp, he seemed like the 49ers’ best rookie, although rookie defensive end Arik Armstead couldn’t participate.

The Niners get credit for those two moves. Here are five more they should have made this offseason.

Draft CB Kevin Johnson in Round 1

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, the 49ers were interested in two particular first-round prospects before the 2015 draft.

“Continue to hear it’s very likely (cornerback Kevin) Johnson or defensive tackle Arik Armstead,” wrote La Canfora in a mock draft he published on April 30.

The 49ers owned the No. 15 pick. Both Johnson and Armstead were available when the Niners were on the clock. Instead of picking one of them, the Niners traded down to No. 17.

So the Houston Texans drafted Johnson with the 16th pick and forced the Niners’ hand. They drafted Armstead with the 17th pick.

Instead of getting cute and trading down, the Niners should have drafted Johnson with the 15th pick. He could have started right away—he can play press coverage, off coverage and zone coverage equally well. He and Tramaine Brock would have made a terrific tandem of cornerbacks.

But the Niners ended up with Armstead, a project defensive lineman who probably will ride the bench his rookie season.

Draft OT Jake Fisher in Round 2

John Minchillo/Associated Press

The 49ers drafted former Samford free safety Jaquiski Tartt in Round 2.

Clearly, they’re concerned about starting free safety Eric Reid, who has suffered three concussions the first two seasons of his career. The Niners need a high-level backup who can replace Reid in case subsequent concussions force him to retire.

But the Niners already have a high-level backup on the roster—2014 first-round pick Jimmie Ward, the Niners’ slot cornerback. He played safety in college, and although he probably is too small (5'11", 193 lbs) to play strong safety in the NFL, he can play free safety.

Instead of drafting a safety in Round 2, the Niners should have drafted an offensive tackle.

Anthony Davis, the Niners’ 25-year-old starting right tackle who last season missed nine games because of injuries (including a concussion), retired on June 5—about a month after the draft.

In hindsight, former Oregon tackle Jake Fisher would have been a terrific replacement. The Cincinnati Bengals took him with the 53rd pick, and the Niners had pick No. 46. He was available for them.

Unfortunately, they misjudged which position needed insurance.

Draft ILB Jake Ryan in Round 4

MIKE ROEMER/Associated Press

The Niners used their second fourth-round pick, No. 126, on a fourth-string running back—Mike Davis from the University of South Carolina.

A fourth-string running back is important to have, but teams can find one of those after the fourth round. The Niners filled this need too early in the draft.

They had bigger needs they could have addressed, such as inside linebacker. This offseason the Niners lost two starters—Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. They retired.

The projected starting inside linebackers are Michael Wilhoite—just another guy—and NaVorro Bowman, who’s coming off a torn ACL and MCL. Inside linebacker is a weakness.

With the No. 126 pick, the Niners could have drafted former Michigan inside linebacker Jake Ryan. The Green Bay Packers got him with the No. 129 pick, and according to Tyler Dunne, formerly of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, they might start him at inside linebacker as a rookie.

“The instincts are something that really stand out,” said Packers director of player personnel Eliot Wolf, per Dunne. “He can get through traffic, he can make plays on the outside, he can penetrate and make plays on the inside run. Pretty good in coverage, kind of an all-around guy.”

Draft RB Josh Robinson in Round 6

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

The fourth-string running back the Niners should have drafted was former Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson, who was available when they picked in Round 6.

Robinson averaged 6.3 yards per carry and 13.2 yards per reception last season, while Mike Davis averaged only 4.9 yards per carry and 11.5 yards per catch for South Carolina.

During OTAs and minicamp, Davis seemed stuck at the bottom of the Niners’ depth chart below Kendall Gaskins and Jarryd Hayne. Those two received reps before Davis during team drills.

Meanwhile, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com, Robinson is competing with veterans Vick Ballard and Daniel Herron to be the Indianapolis Colts’ primary backup running back. Robinson seems like a late-round steal.

The Niners spent their sixth-round pick on former Boston College guard Ian Silberman, who seems like a practice squad player. He’s competing to be the 49ers’ eighth and final offensive lineman.

And he might lose that competition. The Niners’ top-eight offensive linemen seem to be Joe Staley, Alex Boone, Daniel Kilgore, Marcus Martin, Erik Pears, Brandon Thomas, Joe Looney and Trent Brown.

Not Fire Head Coach Jim Harbaugh

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From 2011 to 2014, Jim Harbaugh won 49 games. Only New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick won more during that period. Check it out.

Wins from 2011 to 2014 (including playoffs)

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots: 56

Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers: 49

Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks: 49

John Fox, Denver Broncos: 49

Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers: 48

John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens: 46

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers: 39

Tom Coughlin, New York Giants: 35

The Niners fired one of the most successful head coaches in the league…for what? Because he didn’t get along with management? Because he went 8-8 and missed the playoffs in 2014?

Was it Harbaugh’s fault starting right guard Alex Boone held himself out of training camp and played poorly the first half of the season? Was it Harbaugh’s fault starting right tackle Anthony Davis suffered injuries and missed nine games in 2014?

How many games was Harbaugh supposed to win with that patched-together offensive line?

Unless new head coach Jim Tomsula wins 50 games and a Super Bowl during the next four seasons, the Niners probably will regret firing Harbaugh.

All quotations and practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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