With lower than two weeks till NFL free company opens, the 49ers checklist of offseason wants acquired a brand new addition and compelled a recalibration of their priorities. Kicker Robbie Gould might be exploring the free agent market and signing with one other group.
Kicker was at all times going to be at the least some form of hurdle since Gould is because of grow to be an unrestricted free agent, however this vaults the necessity up the checklist of priorities for San Francisco this offseason.
Free company, set to open with the negotiating interval on March 13, will assist test a number of of those bins, however the group isn’t more likely to have sufficient wage cap area to make any enormous splashes in that market. They’ll even have 10 picks within the NFL draft. A few of these wants will get eradicated in free company, so we’ll circle again and recalibrate then.
Right here’s the place issues stand heading into the opening of free company:
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The longer Brock Purdy’s surgical procedure takes, the extra the 49ers should discover a third quarterback. Accidents have been too massive of a problem at an important place on the sector for San Francisco to go conservative on including a 3rd QB. That third sign caller could have to be the backup so long as Purdy is out. Ideally any quarterback that indicators in will are available in because the QB3, however the 49ers are in a spot the place there’s outsized significance on that a part of the depth chart since that participant might have to start out video games for them.
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It feels foolish shifting kicker this excessive on the precedence checklist, however with information that Robbie Gould intends to play elsewhere subsequent yr it turns into some of the gaping holes on San Francisco’s roster. Kicker is a crucial place for the 49ers since head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t overly aggressive on fourth downs and within the purple zone. They’re assembly with kickers on the mix so it’s on the desk that they draft one. There might be a camp competitors with a rookie and a pair veteran kickers as nicely.
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The defensive entrance is what drives an excellent 49ers protection. With a number of gamers hitting free company, San Francisco must diligently add depth right here. Javon Kinlaw could or might not be a starting-caliber defensive deal with, and Drake Jackson could or might not be able to tackle a bigger position reverse Nick Bosa. Even when these two participant are prepared to fit in as starters, depth issues a ton for San Francisco’s line. They should pour assets in right here by way of the draft and free company to make sure this unit continues to be one of many group’s finest.
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It’s not a slam dunk that proper deal with Mike McGlinchey leaves in free company. If he does, the 49ers may flip to an in-house candidate like Colton McKivitz to switch him. Leaving the job to McKivitz with out competitors isn’t essentially a good suggestion although. They’ll both must re-sign McGlinchey, signal a surefire alternative, or add some competitors by way of free company and the draft to make sure they’re shoring up a key place on the offensive entrance.
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Whether or not it’s Jimmie Ward, Tashaun Gipson, an outdoor free agent or a draft decide, the 49ers want a beginning security. Talanoa Hufanga and George Odum are the one safeties certain to return. Giving defensive coordinator Steve Wilks a flexible chess piece within the again finish of the secondary might be essential no matter the place they arrive from.
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Jake Brendel is a free agent and performed nicely sufficient to earn one other shot at being the starter for the 49ers. Nevertheless, they could not wish to go away the long-term beginning middle job to him. It’s panic time on the offensive line if they’ll’t re-sign Brendel, however even when they do, some inner competitors is perhaps useful long-term.
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