For 2014 & 2013, Front Office Moves/Information: http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/177313-2014-team-needs-updates/search=2014%20Team%20Needs and http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/171861-2013-team-needs-updates/
Schedule:
Mon, Sep 14 Vikings-7:20 pm
Sun, Sep 20 @ Steelers-10:00 am
Sun, Sep 27 @ Cardinals-1:05 pm
Sun, Oct 4 Packers-1:25 pm
Sun, Oct 11 @ Giants-5:30 pm
Sun, Oct 18 Ravens-1:25 pm
Thu, Oct 22 Seahawks-5:25 pm
Sun, Nov 1 @ Rams-10:00 am
Sun, Nov 8 Falcons-1:05 pm
BYE
Sun, Nov 22 @ Seahawks-1:25 pm
Sun, Nov 29 Cardinals-1:05 pm
Sun, Dec 6 @ Bears-10:00 am
Sun, Dec 13 @ Browns-10:00 am
Sun, Dec 20 Bengals-5:30 pm
Sun, Dec 27 @ Lions-10:00 am
Sun, Jan 3 Rams-1:25 pm
Strength of Schedule: We have the 5th ranked hardest SOS and travel the most miles of any team and start 5 games at 10AM while playing in the strongest division by far per http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2015/04/21/2015-nfl-schedule-san-francisco-49ers-have-hardest-path-to-playoffs/
Losses:
Jim Harbaugh - Topless head coach for Michigan
Greg Jackson - Secondary coach with Michigan
John Morton - Wide Receiver coach with Saints
Greg Roman - Running game coordinator with Bills
Vic Fangio - Defensive coordinator with Bears
Ed Donatell - Secondary coach with Bears
Jim Leavitt - Defensive coordinator with Colorado
Mike Solari - Offensive line coach with Packers
Bubba Ventrone - Assistant Special Teams coach for New England
Justin Smith - Retirement saving $4.25M from the books
Patrick Willis - Retirement saving over $6.5M from the books
Chris Borland - Retirement saving $694,359 from the books
Frank Gore - Indianapolis
Dan Skuta - Jacksonville
Stevie Johnson - Released saving $6,025,000 in cap space and then signed with San Diego for 3-years, $3.5M
Chris Culliver - Washington
Perrish Cox - Tennessee
Jonathan Martin - Waived
Cameron Fuller - Waived
Michael Crabtree - Oakland
Chase Thomas - Cut
Anthony Davis - This p***y ass b***h quit. They would save $2,225,000 in cap space, and carry $3,366,670 in dead money. However, that dead money is based on the remainder of his signing bonus money. Given that he is choosing to walk away, the 49ers have the option of re-couping his signing bonus money
Andy Lee - Traded to the Browns for a 2017 7th rounder. They consume his large contact
Chris Martin - Released
Darius Davis - Waived
Chris Cook - Waived
Ben Gottschalk - Waived
Aldon Smith - Matt Barrows @mattbarrows 49ers source: team will part ways with Aldon Smith after his latest arrest. Jay Hurley @Jay_AB81 If the 49ers do release Aldon, they save $3,255,050, while also not being the hook for possible roster bonus/incentives he could earn
Darnell Dockett - The team cut him after he signed a two-year $7.5M contract in efforts to get down to the final 53
CB Shareece Wright - Granted his release
RB Kendall Hunter - Injury settlement
TE Vernon Davis - Traded to the Broncos
RB Pierre Thomas - Waived
RB Travaris Cadet - Waived
OL coach Foerster - Dolphins
LB coach Pedergast - USC
Neutral:
None
Cut down to 75:
The San Francisco 49ers have waived the following 10 players: K Corey Acosta, LB Steve Beauharnais, CB Mylan Hicks, T Sean Hooey, WR Mario Hull, WR Chuck Jacobs, WR Nigel King, LB Shawn Lemon, FB Trey Millard and DL Lawrence Okoye.Additionally, the 49ers placed G/C Daniel Kilgore on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List and WR DeAndre Smelter on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List. The team also placed WR Dres Anderson and LB Desmond Bishop on the Injured Reserve List.
Gains/Moves: Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the agents of players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. No contracts can be signed until March 11 at 1 p.m. (PT). Another great resource for contract details: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/yearly/
See, "Front Office & Coaching Updates" below
RB Kendall Gaskins, TE Xavier Grimble, WR Lance Lewis, OT Chris Martin, ILB Shayne Skov, DT Garrison Smith & Lawrence Okoye - signed to future contracts; Okoye is the highest paid.
CB Leon McFadden & Cameron Fuller - signed through 2015.
RB/P-KR Jarryd Hayne - signed to a future contract with $100,000 guaranteed. Matt Barrows @mattbarrows #49ers officially announce they have signed Australian Jarryd Hayne to a three-year deal. 3 years, $1.583 million, $115,100 guaranteed, $8,000 bonus, $107,100 fully guaranteed of $435,000 base salary.
Darnell Dockett - Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 3m3 minutes ago Darnell Dockett signed with the #49ers for 2 yrs at $7.5mil. $4mil in year one. $2mil guaranteed, per @RosenhausSports. $3.25M base salary in 2015, $250K Week 1 Roster Bonus, and $500K workout bonus; $2.75M base salary in 2016, $250K Week 1 Roster Bonus, and $500K workout bonus. So, $4M cap number in 2015, and $3.5M in 2016.
WR Jerome Simpson - signed the 6'2" 4.47 WR to a 2-year deal. Simpson received base salaries of $745K in 2015, and $885K in 2016, no guaranteed money.
OLB Aldon Smith - restructures his $9.5M 2015 deal. Per AB81Rules: "Aldon restructured the deal, he gets paid $2M in April, the rest if supposedly paid between a Base, and likely a large Roster Bonus. Due to Aldon missing 9 games in 2014, the bonus won't be worth 16 games, instead worth 7 games, so the 49ers get immediate cap relief, but there could be a catch, thanks to Jason at OverTheCap.com, who mentioned how eventually if Smith is on the roster, he will get paid that money, so it's short-term cap relief, but in the long run, they have to pay it back. But he mentioned how they could designate Brooks as a June 1 cut, saving $4.7M, which would cover the money that would be owed to Aldon. Smith's agent, Doug Hendrickson, said Thursday the goal for both the 49ers and Smith, 25, is to sign a long-term extension. Doug Hendrickson, said Thursday the goal for both the 49ers and Smith, 25, is to sign a long-term extension. He said that restructuring the deal should signal that Smith is committed to staying out of trouble and is willing to bet on himself. "Aldon appreciates and is loyal to what they've done for him and how they've stood behind him," Hendrickson said of the 49ers. "He realizes he's been his own worst enemy. Really, I appreciate Aldon's approach to it."
DE Tony Jerod-Eddie - signed their tenders for Exclusive Rights.
RB Phillip Tanner - the 49ers have not presented Tanner with a qualifying offer as a ERFA. The low-level for a ERFA tender is $1.542 million. The 49ers have the option of signing him to a lower salary.
LS Kyle Nelson - per Adam Caplan, signed a 4-yr contract extension, source said.
TE Garrett Celek - per Adam Caplan, agreed to a one-year deal.
TE Derek Carrier - two-year deal worth as much as $3.3 million, a league source said.
S Craig Dahl - restructures his deal worth up to $1.3 million.
WR Torrey Smith - 5-year, $40M deal are $3.6M, $7.6M, $9.6M, $9.6M & $9.6M. $22M guaranteed.
QB Blaine Gabbert - resigned for $1.45 million in 2015 and $1.75 million in 2016. He had a $500,000 bonus and has a $200,000 roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2016 league year.
OT Erik Pears - 2 years, $4.7 million contract.
RB/ST Reggie Bush - 1 year, $2.2M with $1.1M guaranteed. $500K to sign: $500K of $1.6M base is guar; has $100K workout bonus.
CB Shareece Wright - 1 year $3.2M.
CB Chris Cook - 2 years, $1.3M this year.
OLB Ahmad Brooks - per MM through Baalke, "Ahmad Brooks will be on the 49ers this season." Due to a "de-escalator" his salary dropped from $6.85M to $4.35M this year d/t performance requirements not met.
TED Desmond Bishop - signed to a 1-year deal. He is 30 years old and finished last year with us. $870,000, but for cap purposes, it will only count for $585,000
ILB/ST Nick Bellore - signed to a 2-year contract.
ILB Philip Wheeler - Wheeler, 30, a seven-year veteran, does not count against the formula for compensatory picks next year b/c the Dolphins released him.
T Justin Renfrow - signed after a tryout.
CB Mylan Hicks - signed after a tryout.
ILB Michael Wilhoite - Howard Balzer of FOX Sports Midwest is reporting that linebacker Michael Wilhoite has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender with the San Francisco 49ers. The tender will pay him $660,000. It is believed the FO and Wilhoite are seeking a long-term deal.
T Sean Hooey - claimed off waivers from the New York Jets. Hooey (6-9, 304) and is only 24–year-old.
OL Ben Gottschalk, K Corey Acosta & WR Mario Hull - Acquired
WR Nigel King - a 6'3" rookie, has signed a two-year deal
ILB Steve Beauharnais - Signed for additional ILB help
OLB Shawn Lemon - Signed
T/G Jordan Devey (6'6" 320) - Acquired from New England for TE Asante Cleveland
2017 5th Rounder (Washington) - For Derek Carrier
ILB Gerald Hodges - Vikings traded linebacker Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers for a 6th-round draft pick and center Nick Easton
Practice Squad - Signed WR Andrew Turzilli and C Brian Folkerts after promoting RG Andrew Tiller and losing T Tanner Hawkinson to the Eagles
Draft Picks - Adam Schefter; SF and Denver swapping 6th and 7th round picks in 2016, and 49ers get Denver's 6th in 2017. Denver gets Vernon Davis and will now pay him his remaining scheduled $2.51 million in salary and bonuses.
RB Shaun Draughn - Agreed to terms with 49ers, per agent @seanstellato
RB Pierre Thomas - Signed
CB Chris Davis - Signed
RB Travaris Cadet - Signed
OT Donald Hawkins & TE Brian Leonhardt - Signed to the Practice Squad
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson - Signed to the Practice Squad
ILB Kevin Snyder - Signed to the Practice Squad
OLB Ray-Ray Armstrong - Signed
TE Jamie Childers - Signed to the Practice Squad
RB DuJuan Harris - Signed from the Raven's PS
CB Kyle Sebetic & TE Je'Ron Hamm - Signed to the PS
RB's DuJuan Harris & Jarryd Hayne - The two RBs the #49ers added last week were signed to multi-year deals: DuJuan Harris (through 2016) and Jarryd Hayne (through 2017). Hayne's contract is now for 2015, 2016 and 2017, and is the league minimum each year ($435K, $525K, $615K)
PK Corey Acosta, WR DiAndre Campbell, OT Colin Kelly, DT Kaleb Ramsey, LB Marcus Rush and DT Garrison Smith - Signed a reserve/futures deal with the 49ers
WR Eric Rogers - Per source, 49ers giving 6-4, 215-lb, the CFL standout 2-year deal with a $125K signing bonus, $75K in bonuses & $100K base salary guarantee.
OT Colin Kelly
2015 Draft Picks: See Post #3 below (DeUh) for a breakdown of each draft pick!
1 (15/15) DE Arik Armstead - Traded back to 17 and acquired 4 (18/117) in 2015 and Charger's 5th in 2016
2 (14/46) SS/ILB Jaquiski Tartt
3 (15/79) OLB Eli Harold
4 (14/114) To Buffalo for Stevie Johnson
4 (18/117) From San Diego TE Blake Bell
4 (27/127) From Denver RB Mike Davis
4 (33/132) Compensatory WR DeAndre Smelter
5 (15/151) - Traded back to the 5th (29/165) and acquired the Colt's 7th (27/244)
5 (29/165) P/PK Bradley Pinion
6 (14/189) T Ian Silberman
7 (27/244) From Indianapolis G Trenton Brown
7 (29/246) From Indianapolis - Traded for Dallas' 6th in 2016
7 (37/254) Compensatory X WR Rory 'Busta' Anderson
- All draft picks signed, sealed and delivered
UDFA's (AB): According to Brian McIntyre's twitter account the 49ers gave out $160K in guaranteed money to 9 UDFAs, including $105K to the 5 WRs
Dylan Thompson QB - 6'2" 217 4.74 - His numbers are where I'm not 100% sure, he did get $20K gtd, some reports said $15K base, and $5K bonus, now I hear $10K base, and $10K bonus. With all those added up that leaves $12,500 unaccounted for from Brian's $160K number, and of that $7,500 goes to the 3 other WRs (Campbell, Blakeney, and Davis), and leaves $5K left over, which could be a $5K base guarantee for either Rush or Miller.
Patrick Miller T - 6'6" 289 got a $5K bonus
Dres Anderson WR - 6'0" 198, 4.42 got $50K gtd, with $6K bonus, and $44K of his 2015 base gtd
Darius Davis WR - 6'0" 215 4.31. Big numbers at Henderson State -- 2,425 yards and 26 TDs and got a $3K bonus
DiAndre Campbell WR - 6'1" 210 4.53 got a $2,500 bonus
Issac Blakeney WR - 6'6 225 4.62 got a $10K bonus
DeAndrew White WR - 5'11" 193 4.44 got $32K gtd, a $7K bonus, and $25K of his 2015 base gtd
Marcus Rush OLB/ILB - 6'2" 247 4.68 got a $10K bonus
Jermaine Whitehead S - 5'11" 193 4.59 got $15K gtd, a $7,500 bonus, and $7,500 of his base gtd in 2015
2016 Draft Picks: http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-trade-same-pick-twice-two-months
1. First round: Own pick
2. Second round: Own pick
3. Third round: Own pick
4. Fourth round: Own pick
5. Fourth round: Projected compensatory selection*
6. Fifth round: Own pick
7. Fifth round: San Diego pick acquired from 2015 draft trade-back
8. Fifth round: Projected compensatory selection*
9. Sixth round: Dallas pick acquired from 2015 draft trade-back
10. Sixth round: Denver pick acquired in trade for TE Vernon Davis
11. Sixth round: Projected compensatory selection*
12. Sixth round: Projected compensatory selection
**The 49ers are currently projected to have four compensatory picks based on net losses of free agents this off season. Overthecap.com projects the 49ers to pick up their additional picks for the 2015 free-agent losses of Chris Culliver (fourth round), Perrish Cox (fifth round), Dan Skuta (sixth round) and Frank Gore (sixth round).
2017 Draft Picks:
1. First round: Own pick
2. Second round: Own pick
3. Third round: Own pick
4. Fourth round: Own pick
5. Fifth round: Own pick
6. Fifth round: Washington pick acquired in 2015 trade for TE Derek Carrier
7. Sixth round: Own pick
8. Sixth round: Denver pick acquired in 2015 trade for TE Vernon Davis.
9. Seventh round: Own pick
10. *Seventh round: Cleveland's conditional pick acquired in 2015 trade for Andy Lee.
*The pick could become a sixth-round round selection based Lee's performance this season.
Front Office & Coaching Updates:
Front Office:
Al Guido - Acting President (Promoted)
Paraag Marathe/Brian Hampton - Contract negotiations/Salary Cap Management/Analytics Department
Tom Gamble - Senior Personnel Executive
Trent Baalke - General Manager
Jim Tomsula for Jim Harbaugh - Head Coach (Retained)
Bill Nayes - Tomsula's b***h
Darrell Moody - Regional scout replacing Scott Brown (Promoted to DL coach)
Defense:
Eric Mangini for Vic Fangio - Defensive Coordinator (Retained)
Mick Lombardi - Defensive Assistant (Retained)
Jason Tarver for Jim Leavitt - Linebackers Coach/Sr. Defensive Assistant
Clancy Pendegrast - Inside Linebackers Coach - Expected to leave to be the USC Defensive Coordinator
Tem Lukabu - Assistant Linebackers Coach
Tim Lewis for Ed Donatell - Secondary Coach
Ejiro Evero for Greg Jackson - Assistant Secondary Coach/Defensive Assistant (Retained)
Scott Brown for Jim Tomsula - Defensive Line Coach
Aubrayo Franklin - Defensive Assistant/Entry Level
Offense:
Geep Chryst for Greg Roman - Offensive Coordinator (Retained)
Steve Logan for Geep Chryst - Quarterbacks Coach
Tom Rathman - Running Backs Coach (Retained)
Chris Foerster for Mike Solari - Offensive Line Coach
Eric Wolford - Offensive Line Assistant
Tony Sparano for Eric Mangini - Tight Ends Coach
Ronald Curry for John Morton - Wide Receivers Coach/Offensive Assistant (Retained)
Adam Henry - Wide Receivers Coach
D.J. Boldin - Offensive Assistant (Retained)
Special Teams:
Thomas McGaughey for Brad Seely - Special Teams Coordinator
Richard Hightower for Tracy Smith - Special Teams Assistant
Final 53-man Roster: Starter --- Rookie --- (Inactive PUP/NFI/Injured Reserved/Suspension)(Injured/Out)
Offensive Personnel:
QB: Blaine Gabbert; Dylan Thompson (Colin Kaepernick)
RB1: Kendall Gaskins; Mike Davis & Jarryd Hayne (Carlos Hyde & Shaun Draughn)
RB2: DuJuan Harris; (Reggie Bush)
H-Back: None
TE: Vance McDonald & Blake Bell; Brian Leonhardt (Garrett Celek)
FB: Bruce Miller; (Busta Anderson)
X WR: Torrey Smith; Jerome Simpson & Eric Rogers
Y WR (SLOT): Bruce Ellington; DeAndrew White
Z WR: Anquan Boldin; Quinton Patton (DeAndre Smelter & Dres Anderson)
LOT: Joe Staley
LG: Andrew Tiller; Jordan Devey (Alex Boone)
C: Daniel Kilgore; Ian Silberman
RG: Erik Pears; Brandon Thomas (Marcus Martin)
ROT: Trenton Brown & Colin Kelly
Defensive Personnel:
ELEPHANT: Tank Carradine
RDE: Mike Purcell; Tony Jerod Eddie (Quinton Dial)
NT: Ian Williams
LDE: Arik Armstead; (Glenn Dorsey)
WILL: Ahmad Brooks; Eli Harold & Ray-Ray Armstrong
TED: Gerald Hodges; (Michael Wilhoite)
MIKE: Navarro Bowman; Shayne Skov & Nick Bellore
SAM: Aaron Lynch; Corey Lemonier
RCB: Kenneth Acker; Marcus Cromartie & Chris Davis
SLOT (S/CB): Keith Reaser; Dontae Johnson (Jimmie Ward)
LCB: Tramaine Brock
FS: Eric Reid; (L.J. McCray)
SS: Jimmie Ward; (Jaquiski Tartt & Antoine Bethea)
NICKEL/DIME: Jimmie Ward/Dontae Johnson/Marcus Cromartie/Keith Reaser
Special Teams:
LS: Kyle Nelson
PK: Phil Dawson; Corey Acosta
P: Bradley Pinion
PR/KOR: Bruce Ellington & Quinton Patton
Injured Reserve / PUP / NFI / Suspension Total: 17
Tough cuts: Offense: Joe Looney, Dillon Farrell & Trey Millard and Defense: Lawrence Okoye & Nick Moody
2015 UFA: (Free agents with 4 year NFL experience) (Stats through 11 Games)
WR Brandon Lloyd
WR Kassim Osgood
RB Alfonso Smith
RB Phillip Tanner - not tendered
WR Michael Crabtree - Raiders (61 for 715 & 6 TD's)
CB Chris Cook - resigned (Not in the NFL)
ILB Desmond Bishop - resigned
QB Blaine Gabbert - resigned
QB Josh Johnson - Cincinnati/Bills (No playing time)
OG Mike Iupati - Arizona (Owned by Mike Purcell on the goal line twice; injured several games already)
DE Dan Skuta - Jacksonville (30 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF & PD)
CB Chris Culliver - Washington (Torn ACL/MCL)
CB Perris Cox - Tennessee (20 Tackles, 1 INT & 5 PD's)
RB Frank Gore - Indianapolis (181 for 657, 3.6 average, 194 REC, 4 TD's & 4 Fumbles)
S Bubby Ventrone - Coaching
2015 RFA: (Free agents with 3 year NFL experience)
TE Garrett Celek - resigned
ILB Michael Wilhoite - signed his tender
LS Kyle Nelson - resigned
2015 ERFA: (Free agents with 2 year NFL experience)
DE Tony Jerod-Eddie - signed his tender
Practice Squad:
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson
OL Colin Kelly - Signed through 2016
WR DiAndre Campbell - Signed through 2016
TE Jamie Childers
DE Kaleb Ramsey - Signed through 2016
NT Garrison Smith - Signed through 2016
OLB Marcus Rush - Signed through 2016
CB Kyle Sebetic
PK Corey Acosta - Signed through 2016
Cap Ramifications/Potential Cuts:
With the cap increase and roll-over, we currently have $42.9M in cap space before other potential moves as listed below:
Post-June 1st, 2015 (May 12th) consideration cuts could be, if needed:
- Ahmad Brooks ($4,706,250) and Phil Dawson ($3,134,000)
- Restructure targets could include: Colin Kaepernick, Ahmad Brooks, Phil Dawson, Navarro Bowman and Vernon Davis
- P Andy Lee was traded for cap savings, youth (Pinion) and a late draft pick
- Retired players in Willis, J.Smith, A.Davis, Borland, etc. opened up much cap space
Total Current Cap Figure: (Reference: AB81Rules/OverTheCap)
Any team can carry over unused salary cap room from the prior League Year. The cap increased to $143.28M for 2015 per MM.
Read more at AB81Rules: http://www.ninersnation.com/pages/49ers-salary-cap-2015
Read more at Over The Cap: http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/san-francisco-49ers
2016 Cap Outlook: http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/12/8/9854742/49ers-salary-cap-2016-projected-cap-roster-bonuses-potential-cut
The Niners are $42,923,584 under the 2016 cap, with 51 players signed to contracts. That considers the higher end salary cap limit of $153 million which could go as low as $150M or as high as $153M. Potential cuts/trades to save extra $ for 2016:
- Colin Kaepernick - The 49ers can trade or release Kaepernick. His 2016 cap figure is $15,890,753. If they trade or release him as a pre-June 1 cut, they would see savings of $8,493,494 in 2016, while being on the hook for $7,397,259 in 2016 dead money. If they elect to designate him June 1st cut, they would incur a 2016 dead money hit of $2,465,753, with the remaining $4.9M in 2017. This would result in 2016 salary cap savings of $13.425M after June 1.
- Ahmad Brooks - If he is cut without the June 1st designation, the 49ers would save $6,501,250 in cap space, and incur a dead money hit of $3,197,500 in 2016. If they were to designate him a June 1 cut, they would save $7.35 million, while taking a $2,348,750 dead money hit in 2016, and the rest in 2017. He is currently signed through 2017.
- Antoine Bethea - Could very well be released. The 49ers would save $3.75M with a pre-June 1 cut, and take on a dead money hit of $2.5M. If he was released with a June 1st designation, they would save $5M in cap space, and his dead money hits would be $1.25M in 2016 and $1.25M in 2017.
- Glenn Dorsey - Dorsey is signed through next season, with a cap hit of the fact that he only has a $2,766,668 salary cap hit. Given that he is coming off a torn ACL, any release would be that much more difficult. Instead, it seems likely he opens 2016 training camp on the PUP list.
- Erik Pears - Candidate for release. The 49ers need to figure out an upgrade at right tackle, and it very well include the return of Anthony Davis. Pears has a $2.35M cap hit in 2016, the final year of his two-year contract. If the 49ers release him, they would eat $250,000 in dead money, and save $2.1M in cap space.
- Joe Staley - Candidate for trade or release. The 49ers would need to release him before a $4M option bonus comes due on April, and would need to be a post-June 1 designation to avoid an ugly cap hit. It seems unlikely that Staley gets released or traded at this point, but I've seen crazier things happen.
Pre & Post Draft Team Assessment
2015 Team Needs: (Order of Tier Importance: Top Tier, Second Tier & Third Tier)
Top Tier: Theme = "4-down players"
OLB - This is considered a top priority if the rumors are true and we release Brooks post-June 1st. However, current rumors have Brooks staying on but Skuta signed a big deal in FA. All we have left is Lemonier after that. This is a Baalke-like pick (meaning, unexpected mostly) not only so we can groom him while he contributes as a pass rush specialist this year but next year (starter) if/when we lose Brooks but also because we need to make a decision on Aldon regarding a long-term contract. Also, nothing improves your secondary faster than a consistent, rotating, monster pass rush! Projection: 1st or 2nd round - Check! It's safe to say Baalke grabbed a 2nd round value in Eli Harold with the 79th pick overall. This was my top need coming in and we got a 1st/2nd round-talent at pick #79 with Eli Harold. We'll have a sick rotation now with Aldon/Harold and Brooks/Lynch. Confirmed he'll play ST as well (i.e. 4-down player).
DE - Less of a need with the signing of Darnell Dockett but Baalke still likes to plan ahead. This position still could be a higher pick if Justin Smith officially retires. Currently, we have depth with Dial at LDE along with TJE (tendered) and Ramsey coming into the mix (highly touted as well). Plus Dorsey can play DE as needed with a healthy Williams returning. If BPA is a DE, this could be our #1 pick. Projection: 1st or 2nd round - Check! Nailed it. Second year in a row I picked the 1st round player. Welcome Arik Armstead. Check! Safe to say Baalke got his 4-tech rare 3-4 DE in Arik Armstead. He'll work in slowly on passing downs freeing up Aldon. He'll also be on ST's to block field goals. We also added a 4th (TE Blake Bell) and high 5th next year.
WR - We need a tall, bigger-bodied prototypical WCO WR who's got top-tier talent to learn from Boldin (i.e. DGB/Strong) esp. given Crabtree is sure to leave via FA and Johnson was cut d/t his salary (and he's better suited for the slot anyhow). The signing of Torrey Smith alone eliminates 1 of these 2 types of WR's we needed. Projection: 1st or 2nd round - Check! Once again, some damn team picked our guy (Kelvin Benjamin last year) right in front of us (DGB this year) so we backed out and found an ACL-X WR in DeAndre Smelter who is 6 months into his rehab plus 5 other UDFA's to challenge for a backup role this year.
ILB - We're working on a LT contract with Wilhoite and currently own his rights. And then both Borland and Willis retired. Are you kidding me? Who's next, Bowman? Possible. Therefore, this is a much bigger hole today. Bowman and Wilhoite would make a viable starting lineup but not dynamic unless Bowman is 100% healthy. We only have Shayne Skov and Nick Moody behind them. Projection: 2nd or 3rd round - Check! Not in the traditional sense. Wilhoite is working on a contract extension and Bowman appears very healthy. But our nickel and dime packages are on the field 60% of the time. Therefore, we went with the "Robber" position and enforcer in SS/ILB Jaquiski Tartt instead of a "pure" ILB in several packages including the Big-Nickel. He'll eventually take over for Bethea next year or the year after. Technically, Jaquiski Tartt fills the Kam Chancellor role of being our hybrid FS/ILB on the nickel/dime defensive sets while he grows into the SS role and also plays outstanding ST's (coverage units). Tone-setter.
RB - Baalke still has to plan for depth and he likes to have like-players at each spot. He'll need to find a similar-style RB to Hyde as he's shoring up the backups with Hunter-Hayne and now Reggie Bush through FA. He'll most likely be a zone-blocking RB for this new system. A great one could be had from the 2nd round on (like Hyde last year). Projection: 3rd or 4th round - Check! Does Baalke ever NOT take a RB? We needed a RB1 to back up Hyde. Come on down Mike Davis. Check! With Hyde, Bush, Hunter and others plus CK, and possibly moving to a ZBS, we may not even need another RB here. But the hell with that. We added Mike Davis anyhow! Baalke just closed out the top 5 needs with ease.
Second Tier:
LG - Could use a premier starting LG here now that Iupati has moved on in FA although we should have some great competition with Thomas/Martin/Looney. Projection: 3rd or 4th round - Check! So Baalke wanted a big, nasty, athletic pulling G in the mold of Mike Iupati. He found a guy that is bigger and at 350 pounds, can wind-mail dunk a #$%^&* basketball
. In fact, he's so athletic, they are going to start him out at a T first and he already looks way slimmed down. Welcome Trenton Brown. Check! Trenton Brown clearly fits that "big-bodied pulling G" or bulldozer T in the running game. CB - Outside CB. This could be a #1 pick now that Cox & Culliver are gone via FA. Both the Cook and Wright signings are solid depth players with potentially more. We already have depth with Johnson, McFadden, Reaser and Acker. Projection: 3rd or 4th round - No check here. This is one position we did not grab and many expected (even high) despite Baalke forewarning us that there will already be a ton of competition on the outside this year. We're deep big time in numbers here and with the middle of the defense stronger, insane depth in the front 7 and rotational DL and pass rushers inside and outside, the secondary may lead the league in TO's again no matter who wins the outside jobs. Look for an UDFA to be added or a post May 12th add but otherwise, this group is deep and competitive. Mylan Hicks & Jermaine Whitehead were added as UDFA's.
FS - Craig Dahl resigns to stay on as a ST ace (14 tackles last year and he replaces Bubba) but we still need to seek out a real FS behind Reid and who can also be a quality ST player. Bethea isn't getting any younger and Reid has concussion issues while L.J. McCray continues to develop (but is promising) and Ward is learning two positions (slot and FS) and healing up himself. Projection: 4th round - Check! See ILB.
LT/RT - You can never have too many good T's. The Pear signing is basically this year's Jonathan Martin. Having Boone on the team helps. Projection: 4th or 5th round - Check! For additional competition at the Swing-T position, we grabbed Ian Silberman, Dallas' 6th in 2016 plus added Trenton Brown who is currently projected as a T right now as well.
NT - Mangini likes wide-bodied 2-gap NT's so we may go that route as well (even as high as Eddie Goldman or Carl Davis around the 25th pick on a trade-back) even with Dorsey/Williams back 100% healthy together for the first time. Projection: 5th round - No check here. I believe we had our eye on Danny Shelton or Eddie Goldman but it wasn't meant to be. We were (this-close) to getting Danny Shelton. But I'm happy with how things worked out with AA.
QB - We retained a veteran backup in Gabbert and you can expect a hand-picked QB by Geep/Logan to fit their offensive system and develop over time (and push CK). Projection: 6th round - Check! I said 6th but instead it looks like Blake Bell will double as our TE redzone threat AND our 3rd-string backup QB. Logan did lose out on both Garrett Grayson & Sean Mannion but picked up Dylan Thompson as an UDFA's for this preseason.
Third Tier:
PK - We could use a rookie to challenge Phil Dawson in camp as we could save $3,134,000 if we cut Dawson (40) with only $1M in dead-money (post-June 1st). Projection: 7th round - Check! I said 7th but Baalke was ambitious and nabbed Bradley Pinion in the 5th. He doubles as a P and PK and he's one of the biggest punters you'll ever see. Check! Bradley Pinion's leg cover P and a backup PK ON fg'S 50-60+ yards!
P - We could use a rookie to challenge Andy Lee in camp as we could save $1,550,000 if we cut Lee with only $1M in dead-money (post-June 1st). Projection: 7th round - See PK. Check! See PK.
TE/H-Back - We could use a tall 6'6" TE who can catch for the RedZone and to split out wide or for more competition at the H-back spot even though we'll have Miller, Carrier & Millard. Speaking of Miller, pay attention to his domestic violence issue. Projection: 7th round - Check! Blake Bell is 6'6" and is going to be a huge weapon for us. We also grabbed Rory 'Busta' Anderson in the 7th but I project him more as a backup at the X WR position. We added not one but two tall redzone threats in Blake Bell & Rory 'Busta' Anderson.
Assessment: All in all, we addressed every single need save for NT and CB. We started with 9 picks and ended with 10 (added a 4th) and even picked up a high 5th next year along with a 6th. Many picks are somewhat raw and will be worked in on offensive and defensive packages this year, play ST's and work into starter roles in the future for the aging veterans such as Justin Smith, Antoine Bethea, Vernon Davis, Eric Pears, Joe Looney, Anquan Boldin, Ahmad Brooks, Phil Dawson & Andy Lee. The future looks bright!In the end, while we didn't address NT, we technically have 3 experienced and proven NT's on the roster right now, our #1 & #2 QB's are more than secure and we're very deep and competitive at CB (as Baalke already alluded too pre-draft). Baalke actually ended up covering more of my top needs than my own mock-draft!
Draft Round - Ideal Position Targets by Draft Pick:
1 (15/15) - OLB/DE
2 (14/46) - WR/ILB
3 (15/79) - LG/RB
4 (27/127) - CB/FS
4 (33/132) - LT/RT
5 (15/151) - NT
6 (14/189) - QB
7 (29/246) - PK/P
7 (37/254) - TE/H-Back
Baalke's Top Priority Needs: (Position Targets by Round)
1. NT (3) - Looking at all 3 top NT's within thew first 29 picks and no further (Round 1 only)
2. WR (13) - Looking at 8 picks within the top 63 picks and 5 more from the 149th pick on (Round 1-2 or 5-7)
3. ILB (8) - Looking at 5 picks within the top 58 picks and 3 more from the 94th pick on (Round 1-3 or 5-7)
4. DE (6) - Looking at 6 picks within the first 104 picks and no further (Round 1-4 only)
5. OL (6) - Looking at 4 picks within the top 91 picks and 2 more from the 197th pick on (Round 1-3 or 7)
6. OLB (6) - Looking at 2 picks within the top 19 picks and 4 more from the 88th pick on (Round 1-3, 5 or 7)
7. CB (10) - Looking at 3 picks within the top 35 picks and 7 more from the 97th pick on (Round 1-4 or 7)
8. RB (5) - Looking at 2 picks within the top 68 picks and 3 more from the 135th pick on (Round 3, 5 or 7)
9. TE (2) - Looking at 2 picks within the top 74 and no further (Round 3 only)
10. FS (2) - Looking at 2 picks at 122 & 126 and no further (Round 4 only)
11. QB (1) - Looking at 1 pick within the top 61 picks and no further (Round 2 only)
2016 Team Needs per PFF Cumulative Position Groups:
[ Edited by NCommand on Mar 4, 2016 at 1:08 PM ]
