2011 San Francisco 49ers: The 5 Most Important New Players on the 49ers' Roster

I get it.  It's been hard as a 49er fan, with promises of rebuilding through the draft and a bright future ahead for a historically excellent franchise turned wrong.  Fans are aching for a return to winning seasons and Super Bowl hopes. 

However, all is not lost. After what some are calling a great draft class in 2011 and a slightly more active than normal free-agency period, fans have something to look forward to in 2011.  While many NFL analysts (low 20's in ESPN power rankings) are expecting a down year for the red and gold, the 49ers have gotten a lot more experienced this offseason.  With huge new additions at linebacker, wide receiver and safety, these newcomers to the 49ers have to perform big and perform now in order for the team to do well and prove those analysts wrong.

Braylon Edwards, WR

I couldn't have been the only NFL fan who was absolutely shocked to read about this signing.  The stereotypical 49er free agent has usually been a little bit more under the radar, a high character and relatively inexpensive player.  The Braylon Edwards signing only breaks two of those three, considering he signed for only $1 million in base salary and his incentives (only $2.5 million) are very ambitious.

With Crabtree underperforming, Edwards is expected to step right in and make Alex Smith a better quarterback and give him a dependable, big body to throw to.  Their rapport in camp has been a little bit off, but their work in the red zone is beginning to click a little bit more.  If Edwards can satisfy his incentives (90 receptions and a Pro Bowl), then he will have done his part. 

He needs to have the best year of his career in San Francisco for the once anemic 49er passing offense to be effective.  I've read some articles calling this signing a doomed one, but if Edwards can have a good year, then it will be an enormous step forward for the 49er offense.

Donte Whitner, SS

The 49ers' secondary was akin to Swiss cheese for most of last year, with Nate Clements doing a sub-par job in coverage and Dashon Goldson regressing from his stellar 2009 season.  It was safe to say that it was probably the most concerning part of the 49er defense last year.  Whitner's signing gives hope though, being one of the better DBs on the free-agent market.  He was an excellent tackling presence in Buffalo and should be a presence for the 49ers in the secondary.

If the 49ers are to take the NFC West by surprise, then the porous secondary must be fixed, otherwise they have no chance.  With Sam Bradford showing every sign of being the real deal and an unproven but talented Kolb zooming into Arizona, the NFC West QB situation got a little bit more challenging for safeties and corners.  Whitner needs to establish himself as one of the division's better safeties for the 49ers to have any chance at winning a division title.

Aldon Smith, OLB

The only rookie on this list, and he's here for a reason.  Few rookies come into the league with as many expectations as the 49ers are putting on Aldon Smith.  This is a man whose job will be to fix an underperforming linebacking corps in respect to pass rushing.  Smith is a physical freak, with an enormous wingspan and lightning speed. 

His prognosis in camp is to be a starting OLB, after getting quite a reputation.  Starting left tackle Joe Staley referred to him as a "beast," and he's done a lot to keep his learning curve short.  Although the 49ers ended up doing fairly well in sack numbers last year, opposing quarterbacks had a ton of time in the pocket to pick apart the aforementioned terrible secondary.  If Aldon Smith can eclipse the double-digit sack mark this year and be in the top 20 or so in QB hurries, the 49ers will have found an enormous key to making a Top 10 defense.

Jonathan Goodwin, C

I believe this is the most overlooked signing in the NFC West.  I started pulling my hair out after hearing Eric Heitmann wouldn't return and David Baas was snatched up by the Giants.  Adam Snyder has done a fine job at guard, but I wouldn't want to see him take over the starting center job. 

Enter Jonathan Goodwin, former Pro Bowl center for the Saints.  His presence allows Snyder to be a very good backup at all of the interior line positions, and will give them veteran leadership on the inside to complement the young Mike Iupati and Chilo Rachal.  Joe Staley has been an immovable object when healthy and although he was frustrating to watch sometimes, Anthony Davis proved he is capable of being a good RT in the NFL. 

After watching Alex Smith bootleg and throw away a ball maybe eighty times a game for the last few seasons due to a terrible offensive line, this signing should be huge for 49er fans.  This is an enormous step forward for the offensive line, which suddenly became a lot more experienced.

Carlos Rogers, CB

I shed a single tear of joy after hearing Nate Clements was going to be released.  Not because he is a poor CB by any means, but because I hated muttering to myself and annoying all of my friends by saying that the 49ers are paying Clements tens of millions of dollars to lose them games. 

His release meant that the 49ers weren't fooling themselves anymore.  Carlos Rogers was an underperformer for the Redskins, and should by no means be considered the knight in shining armor for the 49er secondary, but his ceiling is much higher than Clements' and a change of scenery will be good for him.  Secondary coach Ed Donatell has had a lot of success in reforming secondaries, and I expect him to do well with the 49ers. 

He will immediately step in and perform at or above Clements' level at a fraction of the price.  As the quarterback quality in the NFC West rises, the 49er secondary has to respond and get better.  With a quality year from Rogers, Whitner and Reggie Smith, the 49ers secondary is definitely rising to the challenge.