John Lynch needed only three offseasons as general manager to turn the 49ers from NFC West bottom-feeders to runners-up in Super Bowl 54. Now, after posting a 13-3 record with few major personnel concerns, consider San Francisco in roster maintenance mode as a returning championship contender.
The 49ers don't have as many assets as they usually do to make big moves in March and April, so they should focus on making the right little ones to address their limited weaknesses. Sporting News takes a deep dive into the 49ers' to-do list from before NFL free agency through the 2020 NFL Draft.
NFL FREE AGENCY 2020: Ranking top 50 players
49ers' top priority: Think ahead to 2021
San Francisco does need to consider who is unsigned beyond 2020 and start making some decisions there. Offensively, the big pending unrestricted free agent for '21 is tight end George Kittle, followed by running back Tevin Coleman and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Defensively, the list of key players in a contract year is much longer: tackles DeForest Buckner and D.J. Jones; end Solomon Thomas; cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and K'Waun Williams; and safety Jaquiski Tartt.
The 49ers need to keep that in mind when looking at their current free-agent class, because there won't be the cap space to keep all those players. Kittle and Buckner stand out as priorities to re-sign as the hardest to replace in their primes.
When the 49ers assess their current roster, they should lean toward being conservative. Splurging to keep their own players or going big for an outside asset doesn't make sense, unless they move some considerable salaries.
Lynch has done a great job blending together a retool and rebuild. Now he has to work on managing his talent riches so the 49ers can extend their Super Bowl window as long as possible.
Also, forget about those rumors of Tom Brady replacing Jimmy Garoppolo. That doesn't align with the path the 49ers need to take ahead of a much trickier 2021 offseason.
49ers free agents 2020
Here's a look at the 49ers' key unrestricted, unsigned players for next season:
- WR Emmanuel Sanders
- WR Jordan Matthews
- TE Garrett Celek
- TE Levine Toilolo
- C Ben Garland
- LT Shon Coleman
- DE Arik Armstead
- DE Ronald Blair
- DE Anthony Zettel
- DE Damontre Moore
- DT Sheldon Day
- DT Earl Mitchell
- CB Jason Verrett
- CB Dontae Johnson
- S Jimmie Ward
The 49ers would like to re-sign Armstead most here while it's getting more apparent they plan to let Sanders walk. Armstead (10 sacks) is coming off a breakout pass-rushing season working in Robert Saleh's 4-3 rotation. A long-term deal is the best way to get it done, because the franchise tag ($19.3 million) or transition tag ($16.3 million) for one year will require some cap maneuvering to fit him in.
Armstead is still more a luxury re-sign given the team has Buckner, Nick Bosa and Dee Ford on their front. But the 49ers ideally want to keep their defensive strength intact at a position where they could lose three other players. Ward has been a versatile player for them at free safety, but the 2014 first-rounder is likely to sign elsewhere.
49ers salary cap
The 49ers have gone from having a ton of flexibility to not much after spending to help create an NFC champion. They have about only $12 million under the cap, putting them in the bottom five in the league.
San Francisco doesn't have a lot of ways to create more room, but a strong cut candidate is running back Jerick McKinnon. Because of knee injuries, he has missed two full seasons at a position where the team is very deep. Releasing McKinnon will save the team $4.55 million. Likewise, the team's wide receiver corps can make Marquise Goodwin expendable for another $3.65 million in savings.
Those are the two non-essential players with decent cap numbers to give the 49ers a little more relief.
Biggest team needs
- Offensive line: The interior could use a more immediate upgrade, but at least the depth has to get better there. The 49ers need to start thinking about a successor to left tackle Joe Staley, who's going into his age 36 season.
- Safety: The 49ers are bound to lose Ward, and Tartt is entering a contract year.
- Wide receiver: Sanders is likely gone, and Goodwin could be, too. They need more pop behind Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne.
- Cornerback: This is in preparation for some losses next year.
- Linebacker: They should think about bringing more competition to the weakest unit of their defense.
- Defensive end: Should Armstead leave, the 49ers need someone who can get to the QB behind Bosa and Ford.
- Tight end: Ross Dwelley is a good, young backup to Kittle, but they could use a veteran blocker with Celek and Toilolo unsigned.
Top free agent targets
The 49ers might be interested in going for another free agent to replace Ward. Of those, the Vikings' Anthony Harris and the Bears' Ha Ha Clinton-Dix make the most sense.
For some scheme-related depth at defensive end, they could go for the Seahawks' Ziggy Ansah. A younger, hungrier guy who can support Bosa and Ford is the Bills' Shaq Lawson.
Kyle Shanahan could tap into his former team, the Redskins, for the top prize at right guard, Brandon Scherff. At a more reasonable price, there is the Rams' Austin Blythe.
49ers draft picks 2020
- Round 1, Pick No. 31
- Round 5, Pick No. 156 (from Denver Broncos)
- Round 5, Pick No. 176
- Round 6, Pick No. 210
- Round 7, Pick No. 217 (from Detroit Lions)
- Round 7, Pick No. 245
The 49ers' 2019 trades for Ford (offseason) and Sanders (midseason) have left them with only six total picks, with the first-rounder being the sole selection for the first two nights. San Francisco doesn't have many holes, but there's more pressure to hit an immediate impact player with the penultimate pick on April 23.
Lynch's aggressiveness to essentially punt on this class was a fair trade to get to the Super Bowl. The 49ers could try to trade down to get an extra pick, but they also could move up or even use the first-rounder for a veteran trade target. That comes with drafting from a position of established power.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2020:
For now, the target that makes the most sense in the first round is a safety, either Alabama's Xavier McKinney or LSU's Grant Delpit. Cornerback is also a good value pick, either Alabama's Trevon Diggs or Florida's C.J. Henderson. Otherwise, there will be an emphasis on depth for the offensive line, defensive line and tight end.
