The 49ers are facing perhaps their most vital offseason since 2011 when they hired Jim Harbaugh to be their head coach. They have nine wins in two years under general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. A drastic turnaround is a necessity in 2019.
Even if they don’t make the playoffs next season, they have to at least be in the conversation. However, a strong offseason can launch them firmly into postseason contention.
With close to $70 million in available salary cap space and a top-two pick, San Francisco has the resources to put together a sensational couple months between free agency and the draft.
Here is a realistic offseason the 49ers can have that would take them from the NFL’s basement to a very serious playoff contender:
Step 1 — Sign FS Earl Thomas
San Francisco desperately needs help in the back end of their secondary. Thomas immediately provides stability at a position the 49ers have struggled with for several seasons. He’s also an elite, All-Pro talent who would elevate San Francisco’s pass defense to a level it hasn’t been since the team was a perennial playoff contender in the early part of this decade. The market for the 29-year-old will be vast, but San Francisco has the funds, the defense, and the personnel to lure the Pro Bowler to the Bay Area.
Step 2 — Sign LB CJ Mosley
The holes in the 49ers’ defense don’t stop in the secondary. They need a WILL linebacker to put alongside Fred Warner after they parted ways with Reuben Foster in the middle of last season. Mosley is a dream replacement. He’s an extremely talented 26-year-old who’s proven to be effective in the heart of a good defense. It’ll take another big contract to get him to Santa Clara, but the 49ers have the space to afford both Mosley and Thomas without handcuffing themselves the rest of the offseason and into the future.
Step 3 — Sign WR Chris Hogan
A veteran receiver would be a nice for a very young 49ers receiving corps. Hogan has never put up huge numbers, but his consistent productivity over the past five years with the Bills and Patriots makes him an intriguing candidate for the 49ers. He’s a shifty pass catcher who gets open in the middle of the field and works as a reliable target on third downs and in the red zone. At 30-years old and without big production he’s not likely to get a big contract in free agency. San Francisco will fill multiple roles with the veteran, who also has the added bonus of familiarity with Jimmy Garoppolo from their time together in New England.
Step 4 — Sign DE Derrick Morgan
The 49ers don’t need to get fancy on the edge in free agency while they hold the No. 2 pick in the draft. They’re likely set to add an edge rusher there, but they still need depth. That’s where a player like Morgan comes in. He turned 30 in January and is coming off a season where he posted only 0.5 sacks in 13 injury-plagued games. The Titans had Morgan playing outside linebacker in a 3-4, even though he’s more naturally a 4-3 defensive end. There’s still some ability left when Morgan is healthy, and San Francisco could use him as a rotational player to maximize his effectiveness. On the other hand, Morgan is experienced enough to take on more responsibilities should he be asked. The market for Morgan won’t be huge, and he can probably be had as a cheap depth piece on the 49ers’ defensive front.
Step 5 — Draft DE Nick Bosa
This one is a little out of the 49ers’ hands since it depends entirely on what the Arizona Cardinals do with the top overall pick. They’re rumored to be circling quarterback Kyler Murray though. Assuming they go that direction and Bosa falls to No. 2, the 49ers have to sprint to the podium. They can’t try to get fancy with a trade back. They have a gaping hole on the edge, and they have a chance to draft a player who appears ready to be effective at that position for the next decade. If Bosa doesn’t come available, they have to go with the top edge rusher on their board. Winning the offseason will involve selecting Bosa though.
Step 6 — Trade up to back of Round 1
The 49ers haven’t been shy about trading into the back end of Round 1 the last few years. They did it in 2016 to snag Josh Garnett with the No. 28 pick, then they did it again in 2017 to move up and grab Reuben Foster with the No. 31 selection. It’s entirely conceivable they execute a similar move this year with what appears to be a load of talent available near the back of the draft. The position they get doesn’t matter as much as finding a first-round talent. Whether it’s a wide receiver, linebacker or defensive back – the 49ers have to unload some of their later round draft capital in order to secure a pair of first-round selections who can contribute in Year 1.
