49ers Needs by Position

This is the time for countless mocks. No doubt I'm working on mines. But imma wait until after the combine before I reveal my mock. But I do think there is a "by position" need for the 49ers. We are a very deep team with not many holes to fill. In fact I doubt we will draft an actual starter out of this draft. Basically, our draftees will be red-shirted and groomed. I narrowed it down to 16 main positions on the field. (I say 16 because CB, OG, and OF have two. I don't include OLB.) Of those positions this is how I see our needs, from most needed to the least needed:

1 – DT/DE
Cowboy has at least one good year left, maybe two. This is a great time to bring a guy in for Cowboy to take under his wing and groom for a year or two. I actually thought we'd address this position last season, but I highly doubt we pass on it this season.

2 – NT
I like Isaac Sopoaga. He's very much unsung and underrated. But he's getting older and it's showing. RJF is pretty a good swing guy along the D-line but I'm not sure about him as an every down NT. I think our 3-4 D-line clearly needs a true 0 technique two-gapper to really clog the middle up.

3 – WR
Boy was I wrong about A.J. Jenkins. Chad Hall took away catches from him, during these playoffs for crying out loud. Either he's a bust, was over drafted, or simply isn't ready. In any event, behind Crabs we still don't have a clear #2. If either Williams or Manningham were healthy this position would be down the list. But with those injuries, and with A.J. not living up to expectations I gotta believe we get a WR somewhere in the middle rounds. Plus, I don't see Randy with the 49ers next season.

4 – CB
Many may disagree with me here but I think if we have a weak link in our secondary it's with Carlos Rogers. Plus, Rogers is 31. Cully has proven his talent but also has proven his inconsistency. This is one position that I hope we package some picks to move up in the draft to get a CB with shut-down potential. (We have 14 picks for this draft. No doubt there will be some dealing.)

5 – FS
I think we re-sign Goldson. Behind our two safeties the pickings are slim. Trent Robinson and C.J. Spillman are good ST guys but I wouldn't say they are starter material, at least not yet. As I stated I'm gonna wait until the combine is done before I reveal my mock draft. But I will say that we have got to get Bacarri Rambo in a 49ers uniform, even if we have to move up to get him. I doubt he lasts past late 3rd – mid 4th round. This kid is strikingly similar to Goldson – aggressive, prowls the middle, and LOVES to hit. We gotta have this kid.

6 – K
I think this should be obvious. I don't know what gotten into the head of Akers but we can ill-afford to not address this need in the draft.

7 – SS
See number 5. Behind our 2 starting safeties it's pretty thin. Donte Whitner is signed through 2014, and will be pushing 30 when his contract run through. We will be in prime position to nab this Rambo kid. He fits this defense to a T. I think Rambo can play SS or FS.

8 – RB
On this team I don't think we can have enough RBs. I think Gore has about one or two seasons left in him. (If we win the SB I wouldn't be at all surprised if Gore retired.) Clearly, Hunter is the guy going forward, and LMJ clearly has a strangle hold on the number 2 slot (when Gore retires). But I really think that a 3rd back would be very good. Dixon has turned into a reliable short yardage guy.

9 – TE
I have a feeling that Delanie Walker won't be resigned. If that be the case then we definitely address this spot somewhere in the draft, someone of the Delanie Walker mold – a fast H-back/TE who can catch and block.

10 – OT
This is a spot that I have had my fingers crossed on all season. Behind Staley and Davis there is an obvious lack of depth.

11 – OG
The same could be said about our OG spot as our OT spot, but not as much. We have a starter who can move to OT in a pinch. I highly doubt Leonard Davis will be in the NFL next season. Kilgore is Center of the future. Looney is still in grooming. If we can get one more good OG I think we'd be set for years to come at that position.

12 – OLB
I know we drafted Cam Johnson and Darius Fleming to provide the depth we need at OLB but they were injured. Parys Haralson starts on most teams and still has a lot in the tank, so I doubt he'll wanna resign to be a backup. Clark Haggans is 36.

13 – ILB
I doubt we get lucky this season with Larry Grant. Like Parys Haralson, Grant starts on most teams, and deservingly so. Tavares Gooden is a beast on ST but he is no Larry Grant at ILB. I'm hoping we find a late round gem to fill the almost certain Grant vacancy. Other than that this position is well spoken for.

14 – QB
I'd be shocked if we spent a draft pick on a QB this season, though I do foresee us finding some young talent off the FA street – rookie or vet. Depends on who falls out of the draft. I'm positive we'll still keep 3 QB's in 2013. I wouldn't mind seeing a young talented project come in and push Tolzen a little. I wouldn't even mind seeing Josh Johnson back in the mix for the #2 spot.

15 – FB
Miller has a firm hold here. Plus Dixon has bought into what Rathman and JH wants out of him. If we bring in a FB he'll just be a camp body, maybe a PS guy.

16 – P
Pro-Bowler Andy Lee has this locked down for the foreseeable future.

Like I said, we have 14 picks in the upcoming draft:
1. First round: Own pick
2. Second round:Own pick
3. Third round: Own pick
4. Third round: From Carolina in trade-back during 2012 draft
5. Third round: Likely compensatory selection
6. Fourth round: Own pick
7. Fifth round: Own pick
8. Fifth round: From Indianapolis in trade-back during 2012 draft
9. Sixth round: Own pick
10. Sixth round: From Miami in trade-back during 2012 draft
11. Seventh round: Own pick
12. Seventh round: From Cincinnati for Taylor Mays
13. Seventh round: Likely compensatory selection
14. Seventh round: Likely compensatory selection

But with zero starting jobs up for grabs I highly doubt we actually draft 14 guys. There's gonna be some serious battles for depth positions. I suspect we do a lot of wheeling and dealing. And I fully expect Alex Smith to be dealt for at least a 2nd rounder. If we draft all 14 picks we are gonna have the most talented PS in the history of the NFL, and it'll get raided un-miraculously. The only way we get a starter out of this draft is if Goldson don't resign (doubt it, and even still slim) or through injury.

Thoughts?

I think Moss will be back, per report. Plus he's been a great locker room guy. Regardless, WR still remains a high need.

Nice Post. I agree DT/DE should be #1. I think OLB should be higher on the list. I know we've invested a lot in Aldon and Ahmad, and they rarely leave the field, but we need better talent at the backup spots. Our pass rush is so heavily dependent on a 4-man rush between the OLB's and DT/DE's that we have to be well stocked with quality talent at those positions.

Would love to spend first 2 picks on the D-line...

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
I think Moss will be back, per report. Plus he's been a great locker room guy. Regardless, WR still remains a high need.

Agree. I'd love if Moss stayed. But WR remains a need.

Originally posted by SofaKing:
Nice Post. I agree DT/DE should be #1. I think OLB should be higher on the list. I know we've invested a lot in Aldon and Ahmad, and they rarely leave the field, but we need better talent at the backup spots. Our pass rush is so heavily dependent on a 4-man rush between the OLB's and DT/DE's that we have to be well stocked with quality talent at those positions.

I'm preying that we can package some picks and bodies to move up to get a NT & DE/DT in the 1st. That'll be great.

Originally posted by 9ersLiferInChicago:
I'm preying that we can package some picks and bodies to move up to get a NT & DE/DT in the 1st. That'll be great.

We'll definitely have the ammunition to do so if needed. It's going to be sweet picking at the 32 spot for a change.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
I think Moss will be back, per report. Plus he's been a great locker room guy. Regardless, WR still remains a high need.

Unless the 49ers get shut out on WRs in the draft and AJ Jenkins continues to be invisible, I can't see Randy Moss back next season.

As to needs:

1. DL future starter. (no brainer)

2. WR - Big, fast. You can only go so far with a bunch of smurfs like Kyle Williams.

3. TE that can read defenses and find the open spots in the zone...and can catch the ball once thrown to him. VD has shown how limited he is as a pass catcher, however, within those limits, he can scare a defense if the right set of receivers are placed around him.

4. You can never have too many guys who can rush the passer. duh

If we can get him, I'd love to see us draft Justin Hunter. He can get open downfield and since we have a QB that throw it downfield we can stretch the field more now.

Other than DT/DE, we don't have a pressing need. We just have to draft smart so we can replace some of our guys. It's nice to not have a major hole/holes to fill.

We have good depth through out. Only position I think we need to draft for would be FS if Goldson isn't resigned. Otherwise best player available for this team and many good options to go whichever direction in the draft. Soap, Walker, RJF, and Goldson are the only guys I see worth resigning to a reasonable deal. The rest of the FA list isn't worth keeping and very replaceable.

Nice list.

I don't think Running back is a need position at all, Gore, Hunter, LMJ and Dixon will all be here next season so picking up a RB (unless un-drafted free agent) is pointless.

Where is Center on this list? This is the one position on the OL that we could upgrade immediately with a 3rd round pick.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
We have good depth through out. Only position I think we need to draft for would be FS if Goldson isn't resigned. Otherwise best player available for this team and many good options to go whichever direction in the draft. Soap, Walker, RJF, and Goldson are the only guys I see worth resigning to a reasonable deal. The rest of the FA list isn't worth keeping and very replaceable.

I agree that we need to draft a FS. But I don't go with the best player available thing. Granted, we really don't have hols, but we do have issues with depth, namely on the D-line. We HAVE to draft for Cowboys replacement. Our first 2 picks should be along the D-line, NT and DE/DT respectfully. Cowboy is 33. Isaac Sopoaga is 31. We haven't drafted at those positions in some time now and it's showing. So we can ill-afford to not address those positions this draft. This is the perfect time too; we wont need for them to come right in and start. We don't wanna wait due to drafting "best player available". The "best player available" may not be the best fit for this team. We don't wanna be in a position of having to start un-groomed rookies at crucial positions on the defense.

Originally posted by TheChozen:
If we can get him, I'd love to see us draft Justin Hunter. He can get open downfield and since we have a QB that throw it downfield we can stretch the field more now.

Other than DT/DE, we don't have a pressing need. We just have to draft smart so we can replace some of our guys. It's nice to not have a major hole/holes to fill.

Justin Hunter reminds me of AJ Green. I don't see him being available to us, unless we trade up pretty high to nab him. Doubt the 9ers would do that, BUT, now that the 9ers are stacked with talent, quality should over ride quantity and they should trade up like Atlanta did for Jones to get J. Hunter.

Originally posted by 49er4life: Nice list. I don't think Running back is a need position at all, Gore, Hunter, LMJ and Dixon will all be here next season so picking up a RB (unless un-drafted free agent) is pointless. Where is Center on this list? This is the one position on the OL that we could upgrade immediately with a 3rd round pick.

I didn't include the C position because I think we are set there. At 34 we still can get another year or two out of Goodwin. Kilgore is sitting ready to go when he dose retire. Center is just not a need for this team.

Originally posted by 9ersLiferInChicago:

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
We have good depth through out. Only position I think we need to draft for would be FS if Goldson isn't resigned. Otherwise best player available for this team and many good options to go whichever direction in the draft. Soap, Walker, RJF, and Goldson are the only guys I see worth resigning to a reasonable deal. The rest of the FA list isn't worth keeping and very replaceable.

I agree that we need to draft a FS. But I go with the best player available thing. Granted, we really don't have hols, but we do have issues with depth, namely on the D-line. We HAVE to draft for Cowboys replacement. Our first 2 picks should be along the D-line, NT and DE/DT respectfully. Cowboy is 33. Isaac Sopoaga is 31. We haven't drafted at those positions in some time now and it's showing. So we can ill-afford to not address those positions this draft. This is the perfect time too; we wont need for them to come right in and start. We don't wanna wait due to drafting "best player available". The "best player available" may not be the best fit for this team. We don't wanna be in a position of having to start un-groomed rookies at crucial positions on the defense.

I will take it a step further. I would rather the Niners trade Alex Smith (for example to KC) not for draft picks, but exchanging a few, so the niners move up in the draft. The niners then can also package picks to move up, thus drafting a NT a DE and in my mind a TE all in the top 60. If they can land Ertz, he also helps with receiving (#3) need as our number 2 TE is on the field a lot. Imagine getting a Walker replacement who holds onto 50% more passes.