7 offseason needs for 49ers, and how to fill them

The NFL Combine kicked off Monday, which means there will be a whole bunch of NFL rumblings and not so under-the-radar talks happening in Indianapolis.

Much of what the 49ers do this offseason will assessed in earnest this week, which is why it's worth looking at what San Francisco needs. Keep in mind some prospects mentioned may end up in totally different draft slots depending on their performance in Indy.

Backup QB
For the first time since 2019, the 49ers got through a season with a healthy starting quarterback.

While they didn’t end up needing Sam Darnold, that’s not an indication that they can ignore that spot entirely. Darnold is a free agent who took fewer dollars than available elsewhere to come to the 49ers, as Brock Purdy’s status remained unclear coming off elbow surgery.

It is now abundantly clear that this is Purdy’s job, and that the 49ers will likely need a new backup. Third-stringer Brandon Allen is an obvious, affordable candidate for that spot. But if the 49ers want to scour the market, there’s Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, and former backup Nate Sudfeld, amongst others.

Purdy was healthy, and those names aren’t exactly thrilling, but the backup spot still has to be considered seriously. Even if Allen hangs around, there’s going to be at least one other addition, and maybe an undrafted free agent type brought in for camp and rookie minicamp.

Defensive end
If Chase Young returns, that would be stunning. He had an outstanding Super Bowl performance, and is in line for a deal the 49ers won’t be likely to match. They’ve got too much money tied up already and the need to extend Brandon Aiyuk.

At age 25, Young is going to get a bag. Randy Gregory, who showed up in the final game, is likely gone, too, which might not be the worst thing in the world (though he showed up in the Super Bowl). Clelin Ferrell is a free agent.

San Francisco obviously needs some help on the edge. The clearest name is Drake Jackson, who has simply not produced and not been all that healthy in his first two years. Counting on him is not an intelligent approach.

This is a spot that should be attacked in both the draft and free agency. It’s one of the three spots, along with tackle and corner, that can be argued for the 49ers’ 31st pick. If they want another speed rusher in the Dee Ford mold, Penn State’s Chop Robinson is intriguing, or if they want a bigger frame who can set edges more reliably, there’s Mizzou’s Darius Robinson and Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara.

In free agency, retaining Ferrell for another year, especially coming off an injury, could make plenty of sense at a sub-$3 million price tag. Other veteran options without prohibitive price tags are Carl Lawson, Derek Barnett or Romeo Okwara. There might be a mix-and-match approach of trying to get edge-setters and third-down pass-rushers.

Offensive line - RG/RT especially
There are many reasons the 49ers lost the Super Bowl. The failure of the right side of their offensive line to protect well was a major factor.

Spencer Burford said that he intends to compete for the starting job at right guard. Jon Feliciano was solid there, but the 49ers may want to go another direction. Either way, it’s the weakest spot on their offensive line, and if they go away from Feliciano, there are options like the just-released Laken Tomlinson (coming off very poor years with the Jets, but could compete for a backup roles in a system he knows well), Graham Glasgow and Greg Van Roten.

Right tackle is the second-weakest spot on the offensive line.

For the price the 49ers are paying Colton McKivitz, with a $3.6 million cap hit next season and $1.64 million cap hit last year, it’s hard to do much better. That’s all to say, you get what you pay for, and McKivitz, though capable and knowledgeable of the scheme, had a very hard time against George Karlaftis, and does not elevate the offense.

Regardless of how the 49ers see it, they need to invest through the draft in the offensive line. You could make a case for just about every position, but drafting a tackle, in a draft full of them, and either finding your long-term right tackle, or someone who could be the future at left tackle, depending on Trent Williams’ retirement plans (he’s been very clear that he wants to keep playing, and has the Hall of Fame athleticism and workout discipline to make that a reality), is prudent.

But the 49ers haven’t used a first-round pick on an offensive linemen since Mike McGlinchey, and their only other solid, young piece on the line is left guard Aaron Banks, a second-rounder.

Talent can be found later in the draft, without question, but the nexus has changed with Brock Purdy at the helm. Suddenly, you have a quarterback who could truly be your franchise. That doesn’t work if you don’t protect him.

This offseason should be an investment in Purdy, and using that first-round pick on an offensive linemen (a tackle is the best value), makes all the sense in the world, especially with a deep class, and some enticing, potential late-first-round options like Troy Fautanu (maybe more of a guard, and probably off the board), Jordan Morgan, Kiran Amegadije and Tyler Guyton.

Corner
Ambry Thomas just does not seem to be the answer at corner, and while the 49ers liked the glimpses they saw from Darrell Luter Jr., it’s as thin a position group as they have behind Mooney Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.

Both are technically free agents after next season, though Ward already has a $12.3 million cap hit in a 2025 void year, thanks to restructuring. He could be an extension candidate, but he may want to test the market again if he has anything similar to the year he had in 2023.

The point is, the 49ers need corner help now, and will need some in the coming years. While you would ideally draft for talent over need, taking an offensive lineman and corner in the first three rounds (and maybe a defensive end) seems like a borderline must. Kamari Lassiter of Georgia is expected to be right in that range of the late first round, but there should be other good options later, like Florida State’s Renardo Green are also interesting.

Linebacker
With Dre Greenlaw’s torn Achilles coming so late in the year, the 49ers are going to need to find linebacker help. Oren Burks, who was a great replacement for Greenlaw in the Super Bowl, is a free agent. Also on the market is Azeez Al-Shaair, who is incredibly appealing depending on his price tag. The Chiefs’ Willie Gay, or simply re-signing Burks, could make sense, too.

This is a position where the 49ers absolutely need to bring in an immediately qualified candidate, but should take a look at in the later rounds. There were some encouraging moments from rookies Dee Winters and Jalen Graham, but is it enough to bet on one of them to play next to Warner? Probably not.

Run-stopping defensive tackle
We shall see what happens with the 49ers’ defensive coordinator search, which should wrap up any day now. Scheme and coaching may solve a great deal of San Francisco’s inability to stop the run last season, but personnel is where it starts.

Arik Armstead isn’t even an elite run defender, but he was by far the best the 49ers had. Javon Kinlaw was the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the defense with his woes as a run defender and strengths as a pass rusher.

They have missed the presence of a D.J. Jones type. A gap plugger. A beefy boy. An early-down Mack truck of a man who just eats up space and out-leverages interior linemen. That is a need.

Bringing in a veteran like Shelby Harris (even at age 32) and a late-round plugger could help. Kalia Davis is also still on the team, and was drafted with that role in mind, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Tight end
This is a position I will scream into the void about for years. As long as George Kittle is healthy, the 49ers are fine just running one tight end sets, especially with the Swiss Army capabilities of Kyle Juszczyk.

But the offense always wants to evolve, and having another capable tight end, amongst other benefits, would allow the 49ers more options in the run game. It would take some of the pressure off Kittle, and make it so that the offense can still function if he goes down.

I know they drafted Cam Latu last year. He seems like a good dude. He was also the only tight end I watched in last year’s draft class that I was decidedly against. His blocking was too upright, and he did not appear dynamic as a receiver (though his red zone threat was apparent). That the 49ers drafted him in the third round is a decision I will never be able to comprehend. Maybe he turns it around, but after watching him draft an astounding number of passes in camp, color me not sold.

It is not exactly a pressing need, but drafting a capable No. 2 tight end (the main reason Brock Purdy tore his elbow in the 2023 NFC Championship), preferably from the Midwest, would allow the 49ers to evolve the offense, and take some of the load off of Kittle and Juszczyk.