After winning the NFC Championship last season and barely missing out on claiming their sixth Super Bowl Title in franchise history, the San Francisco 49ers came into this season with high hopes. The 49ers went 12-4 this season, but it wasn’t good enough for them to win the NFC West as they finished one game behind the Seattle Seahawks in the division. That one game proved to be the difference in winning the NFC Championship this season as the Niners were forced to travel to Seattle for the NFC Championship Game which they lost to the Seahawks 23-17. In the three encounters this season between the 49ers and the Seahawks it was the home team that came away victorious on each occasion. The past three seasons have seen the 49ers make three conference championship game appearances and their record in those games is 1-2. In the National Football League it is tough to be a consistent playoff team as there has not been a repeat Super Bowl Champion since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. With three straight deep runs into the playoffs you wonder how the Niners can keep it going? But the upcoming NFL Draft could be a launching pad for the 49ers to keep their machine thriving.
As of now the 49ers will enter this spring’s NFL Draft owning 11 picks which could increase via trades or when the league decides to hand down compensatory picks. 49ers general manager Trent Baalke has been with the 49er organization since 2005, but he has been working within the front office primarily since 2008. Baalke has had a hand in drafting the young core of 49er players including quarterback Colin Kaepernick, middle linebacker Patrick Willis, and outside linebacker Aldon Smith. In the past three seasons the 49ers regular season record is 36-11-1 with a playoff record of 5-3. Along with Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh, Baalke will look to fill several voids on this team this off-season.
This season the 49ers were third in the NFL in rushing as they gained 2,201 yards on the ground. 49ers running back Frank Gore gained 1,128 rushing yards in the regular season, but in three playoff games he was limited to 164 yards on the ground. When the 2014 NFL begins Gore will be 31-years old. Gore is scheduled to earn nearly $3.3 million in base salary in 2014 which is a lofty number for a running back on the wrong side of 30 in the NFL.
The 49ers were 30th in passing offense this season as wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, and tight end Vernon Davis missed time due to injury. After helping the New York Giants win the Super Bowl in 2011, Manningham was signed by the 49ers to be a deep threat. In two seasons knee injuries have limited Manningham as he as only appeared in 18 games while tallying just 534 yards and one touchdown. Manningham is an unrestricted free agent and it is highly unlikely that he will return to the Niners next season. After being acquired from the Baltimore Ravens last off-season, wide receiver Anquan Boldin led the 49ers in receptions (85), and receiving yards (1,179). Boldin is now an unrestricted free agent, but he appeared to fit with the 49ers this season. If Boldin does return to San Francisco next season, he along with Crabtree would be give the 49ers two solid possession receivers. But in order for Kaepernick to take his game to another level as a passer, Harbaugh and Baalke must find a wide receiver that can stretch the field.
The Niners finished the season fifth in the NFL for total defense, but they suffered a huge loss in the NFC Championship Game when Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman suffered a crippling ACL injury. It is doubtful that Bowman will be ready for the start of the 2014 NFL season and Baalke could solve the problem in the draft or via free agency. The Niners do have depth in their edge rushers led by outside linebackers Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks along with rookie outside linebacker Corey Lemonier. But in the NFL you can never have enough edge rushers to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. In three seasons in the 49ers secondary, safety Donte Whitner has developed a reputation as a vicious hitter and an enforcer. Whitner is an unrestricted free agent who will garner a ton of interest on the market.
As of now the 49ers are projected to be $6.9 million under the salary cap for 2014 which doesn’t leave them that much wiggle room in the midst to bring veterans such as Boldin and Whitner back to the Bay Area in 2014.
The Niners have one first round pick followed by two choices in both the second and third rounds. Luckily for the 49ers this is a deep draft at the wide receiver position so they can find a deep threat in this draft such as LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham or University of Texas wide receiver Mike Davis. The 49ers also have three picks in the final round of the NFL Draft which cannot be overlooked as teams that draft well like the Niners can find valuable players in the later rounds of the draft.
When you’ve tasted the Super Bowl experience like the 49ers did last season you are itching to get back. It doesn’t help the 49ers present situation that they must watch their division rival Seahawks represent the NFC this Sunday at the Super Bowl. But a solid draft this spring by Harbaugh and Baalke can wash away that bad taste in their mouths rather quickly.
Sources: csnbayarea.com, overthecap.com, pro-football-reference.com
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