© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers emerged as one of the most exciting teams in the league after capping the 2017 season on a five-game winning streak. The roster was far from a finished product, however, and 49ers general manager John Lynch has already addressed some of the team’s biggest needs in free agency.
Last week, the 49ers secured running back Jerick McKinnon and center Weston Richburg, whom Lynch labeled as the team’s biggest offseason priorities. San Francisco has rounded out the roster with some additional complementary signings. With the team’s free agency activity seemingly concluded, the focus is now directed toward the 2018 NFL Draft starting on Apr. 26.
Let’s take a look at the current makeup of the 49ers roster, via a position-by-position breakdown.
QUARTERBACK
Jimmy Garoppolo
C.J. Beathard
Nick Mullens
The 49ers addressed the starting quarterback situation when they locked up Jimmy Garoppolo on a five-year, $137.5 million contract last month. The team has some security if Garoppolo doesn’t play to expectations in the next three seasons, with the option to release the 26-year-old quarterback, saving about $44 million in the final two years of his contract.
Garoppolo engineered the 49ers to five consecutive wins to close the 2017 season, despite having limited familiarity with the offense. With a full offseason to learn Kyle Shanahan’s system, Garoppolo figures to carry his momentum into the 2018 campaign.
Backup C.J. Beathard is entering his second year after being thrust into the starting role midway through last season. He appeared in seven games. Beathard’s teammates consistently praised him for his toughness and resolution amid a difficult situation.
RUNNING BACK
Jerick McKinnon
Matt Breida
Raheem Mostert
Joe Williams
Jeremy McNichols
Kyle Juszczyk (Fullback)
Malcolm Johnson (Fullback)
Georgia Southern isn’t a prominent hub for running back prospects, but the 49ers’ top two players at the position hail from the same Sun Belt Conference school.
McKinnon is Shanahan’s newest toy to deploy in his creative offensive scheme after signing a four-year contract potentially worth up to $36.9 million. It’s more accurate to view the deal as a one-term deal, including $11.7 million guaranteed, with team options on the remaining three years.
McKinnon was primarily a third-down back in Minnesota, but Shanahan said he viewed McKinnon as the top running back prospect on the free agent market. The 49ers head coach reportedly wouldn’t be denied in acquiring McKinnon. The 25-year-old running back is dynamic in the open field, versatile in the passing game, and solid in pass protection.
Joining McKinnon is former college teammate Matt Breida, who will look to build upon a productive rookie season. Breida produced 645 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns in 2017. It seems that Shanahan will utilize McKinnon and Breida’s collective speed similarly to the Devonta Freeman-Tevin Coleman backfield in Atlanta.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is coming off a Pro Bowl season in his first year with the 49ers. Raheem Mostert’s role will primarily be delegated to special teams. Joe Williams returns for his second season. Breida was the rookie who shined last year as Williams’ season was hampered due to an ankle injury.
WIDE RECEIVER
Pierre Garçon
Marquise Goodwin
Trent Taylor
Aldrick Robinson
Kendrick Bourne
Victor Bolden
Max McCaffrey
Aaron Burbridge
DeAndre Carter
Shanahan is seemingly confident with this group. Despite the big free agent names — Sammy Watkins, Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson, and Marquis Lee, to name a few — the 49ers stayed put with their current receiving corps.
Earlier this month, the 49ers extended Marquise Goodwin to a three-year deal after he produced career highs in yards (962) and catches (56) in 2017. Goodwin shined after Pierre Garcon lost his season due to a neck injury.
Trent Taylor and Aldrick Robinson provide solid complements to Garcon and Goodwin. It wouldn’t be surprising if the 49ers addressed the wide receiver position in the 2018 NFL draft that starts on Apr. 26. Lynch and company would likely select a big, physical receiver for red-zone situations.
TIGHT END
George Kittle
Garrett Celek
Cole Hikutini
Cole Wick
Kittle was part of an impressive rookie group who performed well for the 49ers last season. He and Garrett Celek produced a combined 851 yards and six touchdowns, their best play coinciding with Garoppolo’s emergence. Kittle capped the season with a four-catch, 100-yard day in a 34-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers may explore pass-blocking options at tight end in the upcoming draft.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Joe Staley
Trent Brown
Weston Richburg
Jonathan Cooper
Laken Tomlinson
Garry Gilliam
Erik Magnuson
Joshua Garnett
Zane Beadles
Darrell Williams
Pace Murphy
Andrew Lauderdale
The interior offensive line was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses during its 6-10 campaign. Lynch addressed the issue in free agency.
Richburg, a former New York Giant, signed a five-year contract worth up to $47.5 million, and the 49ers shipped his predecessor, Daniel Kilgore, to Miami. When healthy, Richburg, who missed 12 games of the 2017 season due to a conussion, is one of the top centers in the league. His versatility and athleticism will help stimulate Shanahan’s offense.
Trent Brown and Joe Staley are solidified as the team’s starting tackles. That leaves open competitions for the two guard positions, as 16-game starter Brandon Fusco signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. The 49ers signed guard Jonathan Cooper to a one-year deal earlier this week. Cooper, a former first-round pick, started 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys last season. He will compete for the starting job with Laken Tomlinson, who started the final 15 games of the 2017 season. Joshua Garnett and Erik Magnuson will also battle for a starting guard position.
DEFENSIVE LINE
DeForest Buckner
Solomon Thomas
Jeremiah Attaochu
Earl Mitchell
Cassius Marsh
Arik Armstead
Ronald Blair
D.J. Jones
Sheldon Day
DeForest Buckner headlines this group as one of the best tackles in the game. 2017 first round pick Solomon Thomas will look to build upon a solid rookie campaign at defensive end. This unit lacks an explosive, game-changing edge rusher, however, with the team parting ways with leading sacker Elvis Dumervil this offseason. The 49ers produced only 30 sacks, the fifth-fewest in the league, in 2017.
Last week, the 49ers signed ‘Leo’ Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal to help fill Dumervil’s void. Attaochu, who has 10 career sacks in four seasons, will get a chance to contribute after being stuck behind Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa with the Los Angeles Chargers.
It seems Lynch will draft a defensive end next month. It’s unlikely NC State prospect Bradley Chubb drops to San Francisco’s No. 9 slot, even with the excess of quarterback-hungry teams picking early. Boston College’s Harold Landry is another intriguing, explosive option on the edge. The quality of defensive ends drops after Chubb and Landry, but Lynch may look to add an option in the later rounds.
LINEBACKER
Reuben Foster
Brock Coyle
Malcolm Smith
Eli Harold
Pita Taumoepenu
Dekoda Watson
Mark Nzeocha
Elijah Lee
Donavin Newsom
Jimmie Gilbert
Boseko Lokombo
The team’s most precarious position comes at linebacker, due to Reuben Foster’s recent legal trouble. In around a month’s span, Foster was arrested two separate times, on marijuana, domestic violence, threats, and gun charges.
There is seemingly no timetable on how the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office will proceed. Until then, the outlook for the linebacker group is cloudy.
Foster lived up to his first-round billing in his rookie season. When healthy, he dominated, especially during the month of November, when he produced 30 tackles in three games and was named the Defensive Rookie of the Month.
The 49ers re-signed Brock Coyle to a three-year extension. Coyle started 10 games last year before his season ended due to a torn labrum. He provides valuable insurance as the 49ers await clarity in the Foster saga. Malcolm Smith will return to the field after missing all of last season due to a torn pectoral.
This is another spot the 49ers may target in next month’s draft. Top linebacker prospects include Georgia’s Roquan Smith and Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, both of whom are potential options at the No. 9 overall slot.
CORNERBACK
Richard Sherman
Ahkello Witherspoon
K’Waun Williams
Greg Mabin
Channing Stribling
Trovon Reed
Sherman was one of the splashiest signings of the offseason. With Ahkello Witherspoon returning as the only starting cornerback from last season, Sherman will provide talent and leadership to a young group. Sherman will turn 30 later this month, and he is recovering from a ruptured Achilles he sustained last November. But the four-time first-team All-Pro expects to return to form, evidenced in his highly incentivized three-year deal. Sherman and Witherspoon will start at cornerback, with K’Waun Williams at the nickel slot.
The 49ers will likely continue to shop for depth at defensive back. Earlier this week, Lynch met with free agents LaDarius Gunter and Kaylen Watkins, both of whom are big, physical cornerbacks who fit a mold in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme.
If Lynch holds off in free agency, he will likely draft a cornerback in next month’s draft.
SAFETY
Jimmie Ward
Jaquiski Tartt
Adrian Colbert
Dexter McCoil
Tyvis Powell
Don Jones
Chancellor James
The 49ers don’t seem interested in re-signing Eric Reid, who still remains a free agent. The trio of Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Adrian Colbert flashed serious potential last season, but all three players battled injuries. The 49ers appear content on moving forward with this group.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Robbie Gould (Kicker)
Bradley Pinion (Punter)
Jeff Locke (Punter)
Kyle Nelson (Longsnapper)
The special teams unit remains intact. Robbie Gould returns as the starting kicker after connecting on 39 of 41 field goals in 2017. The 49ers also brought in left-footed punter Jeff Locke earlier this offseason.
