49ers' Top Needs for the Draft
The 49ers' first pick in this year's draft will be the most interesting because the top 10 prospects have been on a merry-go-round.
The best player in the draft changes every week!
So trying to predict who will go in picks one through six keeps changing.
They will continue to rotate.
But the 49ers' needs won't
1 Quarterback
1 of 11
Quarterback is the biggest need of the 49ers.
Most important offensive position.
2010 performance was not good.
This year Alex Smith is a free agent. Troy Smith is a restricted free agent.
David Carr is still under contract but he costs a lot. His 2011 roster spot is not written in stone.
Re-sign Alex Smith to tutor a quarterback prospect in the draft?
Alex knows the offense and could be a one-year band-aid at this position.
Or sign an unrestricted free agent quarterback to help bring along a rookie signal caller?
2 Outside Linebacker
2 of 11
Outside Linebacker is the second largest of the 49ers’ needs.
49ers need an outside pass rush off the edge. It has been a decade since any OLB has had double-digit sacks. The combination of Haralson, Lawson, Brooks and Travis LaBoy yielded a total of 16.5 sacks and Brooks led the way with five.
Manny Lawson is a free agent but he may not be back.
Travis LaBoy is a free agent.
Parys Haralson is awful in pass coverage.
OLB is a bigger need than Nose Tackle because more assignments are missed at this position.
3 Defensive (Nose) Tackle
3 of 11
Nose Tackle is just slightly behind OLB of the 49ers’ most important needs.
The 49ers will probably continue with the 3-4 scheme under Harbaugh and new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but, other than Franklin, the 49ers don’t have many players suited to line up as a nose tackle.
Aubrayo Franklin is an unrestricted free agent and he will most likely be gone.
Ricky Jean-Francois may take over the top nose tackle spot on the depth chart, but at 6’3” and 295 lbs. he is slightly undersized.
Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense starts with the nose tackle. It has more variations than Greg Manusky’s scheme.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
4 Cornerback
4 of 11
Cornerback is next of the 49ers’ needs. Cornerback is a strong need, but not a top three.
The 49ers might not want to shell out $7.25 million for Nate Clements who signed an $80M deal a few years back. Now he is turning 32, but he is still a pretty good starting corner.
On the other side Shawntae Spencer is inconsistent.
Tarell Brown, who makes a better nickel back, is an unrestricted free agent.
5 Offensive Center
5 of 11
Offensive Center comes in at fifth in the 49ers’ needs.
Eric Heitmann and David Bass are good at this position, but it was a concern in 2010 due to Heitmann’s injury.
In addition, David Bass is a free agent.
The 49ers don’t need fumbled snaps. They need stability at center.
Tony Wragge converted to second on the depth chart behind Bass; however, it is time to address this concern in the late rounds of the draft.
6 Wide Receiver
6 of 11
Wide Receiver is ranked sixth of the 49ers’ needs.
What happened to Michael Crabtree? Where is his production? Is it the fault of the quarterback?
Maybe it isn’t the quarterback and we should look to the other side of the offensive field. Is it Josh Morgan’s inconsistency?
Both players (Crabtree and Morgan), have big play potential.
There just are not enough big plays.
Wide Receiver is a deep position in this year’s draft, so look for a late-round acquisition.
7 Defensive End
7 of 11
Defensive End is next on the list of 49ers’ needs.
Isaac Sopoaga and Ray McDonald need to be upgraded.
Second-string DE Demetric Evens is a free agent
Ray McDonald is a decent third-down specialist; however, McDonald and Sopoaga need more help for every-down.
8 Free Safety
8 of 11
Free Safety is ranked eighth of the 49ers’ needs.
Dashon Goldson was the starting Free Safety in 2010, but he is a restricted free agent in 2011.
The 49ers have tendered an offer to Goldson; however, the submission of tender offers to RFAs is that the 49ers now gain a right of first refusal on contract offers by other teams.
If Goldson does not return, perhaps Taylor Mays could be moved from Strong Safety.
9 Inside Linebacker
9 of 11
Inside Linebacker is ranked ninth of the 49ers’ needs.
Patrick Willis is the mainstay at inside linebacker. Takeo Spikes is very good at the other inside linebacker spot, but he is 34 years old.
Takeo Spikes is also a free agent.
With Takeo Spikes’ free agency, and the probability for a drop in ability for an ILB turning 35, Navarro Bowman is ready to take his spot but there still is a depth question.
10 Offensive Tackle
10 of 11
Offensive Tackle is ranked tenth of the 49ers’ needs.
With two linemen taken with the first two picks in 2010, why would the 49ers need a lineman?
Because the 49ers need a better option if Joe Staley is injured again.
Barry Sims is not the answer.
Perhaps a Kicker should be number 10, but leave that post-draft free agency.
Summary
11 of 11
The Top Ten Needs for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft:
1 Quarterback
2 Outside Linebacker
3 Defensive (Nose) Tackle
4 Cornerback
5 Offensive Center
6 Wide Receiver
7 Defensive End
8 Free Safety
9 Inside Linebacker
10 Offensive Tackle
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
