San Francisco 49ers: 5 Holes Jim Harbaugh Needs to Fill on Draft Day

It’s unclear what the San Francisco 49ers did to offend the football gods, but unquestionably the red and gold have built up some bad karma these past few years.

Nate Clement's fumble, Brett Favre’s Hail Mary, the Bay Area economy tanking hopes of a new stadium, a franchise that once could do wrong these days can’t seem to catch a break.
       
As the 49ers enter rebuild 3.0, Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke will start behind the eight ball before their first training camp. The NFL labor strife has paralyzed the 49ers’ ability to add free agents or install an entirely new system, leaving a team desperately in need of a change of direction stuck in neutral.

The frozen free agent market should force the 49ers to fundamentally change the way they look at the 2011 draft. Instead of swinging for the fences on one superstar, the team needs to bat a high percentage and produce productive players at multiple positions.

With an NFL high 12 picks this year Harbaugh and Co. have the tools to restock the 49ers roster, here are the top five holes they need to fill on draft day.

Scary Pass Rusher

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Von Miller of Texas A&M works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The 49ers haven’t had a player with double digit sacks since Andre Carter in 2002, which in a related story was the last time the team made the playoffs.

Manny Lawson has proven he doesn’t have the skills to be an elite pass rusher and no quarterback is staying up a night with nightmares about Parys Haralson.

The 49ers desperately need someone who can bring pressure off the edge, easing the strain on the secondary and forcing teams to game plan for someone other than Patrick Willis.

If Von Miller were to fall to 49ers at No. 7 he would be a perfect pick, but most mock drafts have the Texas A&M OLB off the board in the top five.

If Miller is gone the 49ers could opt for a pass rushing DE like Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers, or look to package later rounds picks to snag a pass rusher in the bottom half of the first round.

Regardless of how they get it done, the Niners need to leave the draft with a way to turn up the heat on opposing quarterbacks.

Shutdown, or at Least a Slowdown, Cornerback

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers breaks up a pass intended for Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Gett

San Francisco could use a shutdown cornerback, then again so could 29 other teams, so that’s not really breaking news.

More specifically, the 49ers need a DB with the speed to keep up with and slow down the likes of Roddy White and DeSean Jackson, who have left burn marks across the 49ers secondary the past few seasons.

Harbaugh and Co. have been pretty open about their desire to improve at CB, as a result most mocks have San Francisco selecting either Patrick Peterson out of LSU or Prince Amukamara from Nebraska.

Peterson is considered by some to be the best athlete in the draft, while Prince is universally hailed as having the best name.

Either player would provide a much-needed injection of speed and youth into San Francisco’s stagnant secondary (I believe it’s actually required now to use the term “aging” when describing Nate Clements).

The reality is truly dominant cornerbacks are one of the rarest commodities in football and CB’s taken in the Top 10 bust as often as they blossom.

So while Harbaugh shouldn’t feel forced to take a cornerback at No. 7, he does need to find a productive addition to the defensive backfield somewhere in the draft.

Change of Pace Running Back

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CORVALIS, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Jacquizz Rodgers #1 of the Oregon State Beavers runs with the ball against the Southern California Trojans at Reser Stadium on September 25, 2008 in Corvalis, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Maybe the best investment the 49ers could make right now is a cryogenic freezing tank, where they can insert Frank Gore and then thaw him out when the team is ready to contend.

Gore has wasted his entire career toiling away behind makeshift lines and inept quarterbacks, a streak that looks to continue in 2011.

Already injury prone, it’s only a matter of time before the weight of carrying the 49ers' offense crushes Gore’s body and spirit.

San Francisco needs to add an explosive back-up to save Gore reps in the short term and hopefully take over down the line.

Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers, or homegrown talent Shane Vereen out of Cal, should both be on the board for a while and would immediately provide a solid third down/pass catching option out of the backfield. Both could also contribute to San Francisco’s pathetic return game.

Barring another injury Gore will still be the engine that drives the 49ers' offense next season, but his odometer is turning quickly so Harbaugh would be wise to start shopping for a new model.

A Big Fat Nose Tackle

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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 07: Defensive tackle Phil Taylor #11 of the Baylor Bears in action during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Because A) They’re fun to watch in high-definition B) The defense has a gaping hole in the middle with Aubrayo Franklin on his way to the open market.

Last season, offensive coordinators finally got the bright idea to use three guys to block Patrick Willis, which in turn caused the 49ers' run defense to fall apart. What San Francisco needs now to counter is a extra large lineman to tie-up those blockers, allowing Willis to once again roam free.

Baylor’s Phil Taylor, who’s a cheeseburger away from 340 lbs, would fit the hefty mold needed for that job description, as would Kenrick Ellis, who probably hasn’t seen his feet since elementary school.

With Ricky-Jean Francois and Isaac Sopoaga capable of filling the middle on passing downs, the 49ers should be looking for a super-sized run solution through the draft.

A Sleeper Signal Caller

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs signals a play against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

I’ve now gone nearly a thousand words without mentioning “49ers” and “quarterback” in the  same sentence, which I believe is a new record.

I did this because even though San Francisco unquestionably needs a new QB, it’s probably the least likely hole that Harbaugh can fill on draft day.

The reality is a quarter of the league, and a handful of teams picking ahead of San Francisco, could use a new quarterback. The result is QB stock is skyrocketing faster than gas prices.

In a draft where the 49ers need to hit on multiple picks, reaching for a QB early would be a monumental mistake for Harbaugh. Want proof? Ask Mike and Mike (Nolan and Singletary) what a failed first round QB will do for your job security.

Even if San Francisco lucked into, or traded up, to get, say, Blaine Gabbert, he wouldn’t be handed a playbook until the lockout lifted, which could be weeks or days before the start of the season.

A rookie QB, a newly installed offense, plus a rookie (NFL) head coach equals an express pass to the top of the 2012 draft. The worst possible scenario for the 49ers is to take a QB in the first round this year, only to go 2-14 and find themselves picking first in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

If Harbaugh is the QB guru fans hope he is, he should be scouring Mel Kiper’s Big Board to see if any of the second or third-tier signal callers can fit his system.

If San Francisco takes Christian Ponder or Andy Dalton and they show signs of being the next next Tom Brady, terrific. Next year, the 49ers can use their top pick to fill another need or trade down for more assets. 

If Harbaugh whiffs on one of those later round QBs, there is always Alex Smith to lead the 49ers back to the bottom of the standings and the team will have no qualms taking the prodigal son from Standford in 2012.

No matter how if shakes out 49ers fans should expect another painful passing year at Candlestick, better to have each interception lead the team closer to Andrew Luck.