This offseason was arguably the 49ers’ most important of the decade. After two disappointing seasons, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch had to make moves that pushed the team in the direction of contention. They appear to have done so.
Here are the six best moves the 49ers made during the offseason:
Signing CB Jason Verrett
It turns out the 49ers didn’t prioritize their secondary despite that unit finishing among the league’s worst a season ago. Their additions at corner were minimal, but bringing in 28-year-old Verrett on a one-year deal worth $3.6 million was a strong low-risk, high-reward signing.
The risk is that Verrett may not be healthy enough to play. He’s played in just 25 games in five seasons due to a number if injuries, including a torn Achilles in training camp last season that knocked him out for the year. However, his one full season in 2015 earned the former first-round pick a trip to the Pro Bowl. Verrett could wind up being a surprise starter for San Francisco if he stays healthy and regains his 2014 form. If he can’t stay healthy or play at a high level, it won’t come at a huge cost to the 49ers.
Signing Tevin Coleman
Running back seemed like the last position the 49ers would look to in the offseason. Their backfield produced at a high level last season despite numerous injuries forcing them to dip into their practice squad, and give Raheem Mostert his first real action outside of special teams. Coleman was available late in free agency though, and a two-year, $8.5 million for a running back who’s already produced in Kyle Shanahan’s offense was too good to pass up.
Coleman adds another explosive layer to the 49ers’ running backs room, and gives Shanahan even more versatility with that group. It also adds depth in the event that injuries crop up again. Adding a third running back with Jerick McKinnon returning from an ACL tear and Matt Breida coming off a breakout season may seem like overkill, but giving Shanahan more explosive players to work with can’t be seen as a bad thing.
Drafting Deebo Samuel No. 36 overall
The argument could’ve been made that wide receiver was the 49ers’ biggest need going into the draft. Selecting one at No. 2 overall didn’t seem like a prudent move, so using their second-round pick on Samuel made a lot of sense.
He’s the prototype Shanahan receiver who runs a diverse route tree, creates separation with his route running and then bullies defenders after the catch. Samuel was a versatile weapon at South Carolina who scored touchdowns through the air, on the ground and as a kick returner. The sheer production may not be there in Year 1 for Samuel, but his presence across from Dante Pettis should add a wrinkle on the perimeter that San Francisco desperately missed last season.
Signing Joe Staley to an extension
Eliminating questions about Staley’s future was an under-the-radar key move by the 49ers. The 34-year-old was going into the final year of his deal and indicated earlier in the offseason that he hadn’t decided on playing next season. Outwardly, this may not have mattered much, but any potential friction around one of the team’s leaders would not have been helpful.
The team announced during their State of the Franchise event that Staley inked a two-year extension with nearly $28 million in new money. That means the left tackle will be with the club through the 2021 season. He’s continued to play at a high level entering his mid-30s, and locking down one of the NFL’s top left tackles was a must for an offense that needs as much stability as possible going forward.
Drafting Nick Bosa No. 2 overall
Bosa seemed like the obvious choice once the Cardinals selected quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick. The 49ers needed some edge help and Bosa was arguably the top prospect in the draft. Finding a top prospect at a position of need is the dream scenario, especially for a team like San Francisco that fell into the No. 2 pick thanks to some schedule luck and some bad injuries.
The only questions when the 49ers were on the clock were whether they’d trade out of the No. 2 slot, or select Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams instead of Bosa. There was a real chance to overthink this year’s draft. General manager John Lynch instead chose the Ohio State defensive end and gave the 49ers an edge rusher with the talent to win a Defensive Player of the Year award. Getting a player like that is the best-case scenario for a team that aimed to improve the league’s worst pass defense by bettering the pass rush.
Trading for Dee Ford
The trade for Ford was the most important move of the offseason for the 49ers. Free agency hadn’t opened yet when reports surfaced that San Francisco dealt a 2020 second-round pick to Kansas City in exchange for the franchise-tagged pass rusher. The 49ers hammered out a long-term extension with Ford and the deal was done.
There’s an obvious on-field element that makes this a vital move for San Francisco. They needed a dominant pass rusher on the edge, and Ford was arguably the best edge rusher in the NFL last season.
There’s a deeper element though about the 49ers’ team building. It looked like Lynch was going to continue shooting for low-risk signings with the hope that eventually the pieces would fall into place. Their attempts at adding edge help had all come up short prior to the Ford trade, and his five-year, $85.5 million contract was a signal that the 49ers were going to take big swings to ensure their defense could reach a championship level.
All the other moves this offseason should help improve the club, but the Ford trade was the big splash that indicated the team is ready to compete for a championship in 2019.
