Early Look at Free Agency

"Definitely think we need to add another quarterback. I think we need to add an offensive lineman, guard or tackle. On the defensive side of the ball, we definitely need a pass rusher. You never have enough of those. So a couple of those guys would be great. Possibly a safety. Our guys have done a good job but going forward, we may want to get a safety that has some range or what have you. So generally, to start with, that's a good place to start right now." - Mike Singletary, Head Coach

Now that we know what the team needs, time to look over those specific needs and how the team can fulfill them during the offseason, specifically through free agency. Also, remember that this is a VERY early look into the preseason. The current football season isn't even over yet and there's A LOT that can happen by the time free agency starts. Before I go over each position individually, we need to address the futures of the team's current free agents. There's more than a few so I'm only gonna cover the ones I think are significant.

1. First, we can clear some cap space by releasing OT Jonas Jennings and Tully Banta-Cain. Jennings was one of Nolan's biggest flops and it's clear that he can't stay healthy enough to make a positive contribution to the team. TBC is expendable and should be expended. He's being paid too much to be a special teams player. Here's a wild card: FS Mark Roman. However, I wouldn't release him until we pick up a replacement.

2. MLB Takeo Spikes. In my opinion, re-signing Spikes is a MUST. He played his part perfectly and was one of the most productive players on the team. Most importantly, he provides leadership for a young front seven and a mentor for Patrick Willis.

3. KR/PR Allen Rossum. McCloughan really nailed it when he brought Rossum on board. Despite his age, Rossum possessed enough quickness to match his instincts and starred as one of the most productive return specialists in the league. I believe Rossum can still contribute in his current role next season, but the 49ers would be smart to look into the position more and find an eventual successor. At the least, a capable back-up is a necessity. If Dominique Zeigler returns another punt, I will blow my brains out.

4. WR Bryant Johnson. It's hard to gauge Johnson's value to the team. Either way, if he's re-signed, I can't see him doing any better than becoming the #3 WR, AGAIN. With the emergence of Josh Morgan and Jason Hill, Johnson just seems expendable.

5. RB DeShaun Foster. Foster proved to be a capable fill-in when Frank Gore sat out two games towards the end of the season. However, he didn't do much else before that. I think the Niners can afford to go in a different direction this season and instead sign a bruiser, power RB that can crank out those short yards, thus taking a huge load off Gore.

6. NT Ronald Fields. I was really disappointed that Fields didn't contribute much this year. I haven't been the biggest Aubrayo Franklin supporter, even despite his improved play, and I hoped that Fields could possibly supplant him as the starting nose tackle. With that said, I'd openly welcome Fields back as a back-up for the right price, but I still believe the team's answer at NT is not on the current roster.

7. CB Donald Strickland. Strickland's always been a solid, yet VERY underrated player. He has been reliable in coverage and does well in run support. He will never be considered a top CB in the league, but he excels in the role he is given. I expect the Niners to re-sign him at a reasonable price.

The rest of them can be let go and that includes JTO, Rod Green, Billy Bajema, and Zak Keasey.

Now back to what Coach Sing was saying...

1. Quarterback. First off, I like Shaun Hill. Yeah, he's not as talented or athletic as most NFL quarterbacks, but he plays very smart and he posesses the intangibles needed to succeed. He's a fully capable game manager and he's has shown a real knack for winning. For the type of system Singletary's trying to implement, Hill seems to fit in just fine. However, several media pundits have the Niners looking to improve upon the position through free agency. Right now, the most popular pick would be Matt Cassel, who just had a semi break-out season as a fill-in for the injured Tom Brady. However, I'm not convinced that Cassell would be an improvement over Shaun Hill, thus I can't see how his signing would be justified. The wild card of the offseason may come as a surprise to some. Before the 2007 season, the idea of Donovan McNabb playing for another team was unreal. However, when his successor, Kevin Kolb, was drafted in 2007, it raised questions about McNabb's future with the Eagles. Some believe this year to be his last with the team, which would instantly make him the most coveted free agent on the market. His experience in Andy Reid's West Coast Offense makes him appealing to Coach Sing's desire to return to a traditional offense. Would I be upset if the Niners fail to sign him if he became available? Nah, but I'd have no complaints if they did. In the end, I think the Niners should pass on QB free agents this year and draft a QB to groom as an eventual replacement for Hill.

2. Offensive lineman. You can't have a smash-mouth offense without a mauling offensive line that can steamroll through the defense. I agree with Coach Sing in that the current line is fully capable of doing so. However, there is a glaring weakness at the right tackle position that must be addressed. Jonas Jennings is finished in SF. Barry Sims is not a starter, period. Adam Snyder is talented but still inconsistent as a starter. He performs his best when used in rotation along the line. What the team needs is a consistent pass blocker on the right side that can also create holes for the run game. The wild card here would be current starting right guard, Chilo Rachal. His natural position is RG and he excels at it, but in training camp, he has shown flashes of ability to play tackle, as well. If he can manage to lock down the tackle spot, it would provide the Niners some flexibility in handling the other weak points of the line. Ideally, the team should keep Rachal at his current position and bring in a starting right tackle to bookend the line. The prize pick of free agency this year is Jordan Gross, who was franchised last season by the Panthers. He would be a major upgrade over anyone currently on the Niners' roster but will also be a hot commodity around the leage. If the Niners target him, they'd likely be caught in a bidding war with several other teams. My personal pick this season would be Vernon Carey, a monster left tackle currently with the Dolphins. Carey has experience at almost all the positions along the line, but his natural position would be at right tackle, where he dominated as an All-American at The U. One more wildcard player: OG Jason Brown. Getting Brown would mean the team would have four players capable of playing guard or center. He's a powerful mauler and someone I really hoped the Niners would draft in 2005. He's exactly the type of player the team needs to run a smash mouth offense. If Rachal moved one spot to his right, Brown would fit in nicely between Heitmann and Rachal. I'm just saying...

3. Pass rusher. Parys Haralson finally came along and Justin Smith was a huge step in the right direction. However, despite the improvements, the Niners lack that double digit sack, QB-killing, game-changing pass rusher that can put pressure on the QB on a consistent basis. The free agent class for pass rushing specialists is very top heavy the year, assuming that the key players don't re-sign with their current teams. Julius Peppers would be an obvious upgrade but is not a good fit in the 49ers' 3-4 system. On the other hand, Terrell Suggs, if signed, would bookend the Niners' linebacker corps giving them arguably the best young group of linebackers in the league. In addition, Suggs has a history with Singletary during Sing's previuos days as the Ravens' linebacker coach. The problem is that pass rushers are held at a premium and the costs of their services are very expensive. GM McCloughan will have to think hard as to whether he should break the bank to acquire Suggs or bite the bullet and try his luck in this year's draft, which is rich in pass rush specialists. Or he can do both. Like Coach said, "You can never have enough of those."

4. Free safety. It's been years since the Niners had some decent range at FS and this year, the team's deficiency at that spot was exposed all too often. Like the pass rush, the team has failed to upgrade the position and has suffered from it year in and year out. Mark Roman is out of his league and the fact that he hasn't recorded an interception in over two years says a lot about his lack of playmaking ability. The team desperately needs some better talent at FS; a true ball-hawking centerfielder that can be reliable last line of defense and get his hands on the ball. Got another wild card here: Dashon Goldson, the 4th round draft pick and gem of the previous training camp. From what was said about him in the reports from camp, you'd think Ed Reed grew some dreadlocks, put on a Goldson's helmet, and played in Goldson's place. Yet for some reason, he was never able to supplant Roman. You can only hope that it was due to his lack of experience and next year, he'd be more prepared to take on a larger role. The team's gonna need it, too. The FS free agent class is pretty bare. The best of the bunch seems to be Oshiomogho Atogwe, who I'm not convinced will be a significant upgrade over what the Niners got now. Fortunately, they can look forward to the draft, which looks to have a strong group of safeties coming in; something we can discuss later... **Update: Another idea may be to try rookie Reggie Smith out at free safety. Smith has experience playing both a CB and a DS, so it's not out of the question. Only time will tell where he fits, but if he can put it all together, he does have the physical tools to become a starting DS.

5. Nose tackle, Running back, and Fullback. These weren't positions of need stated by Coach Singletary, but I really think that they are crucial positions of need. I don't see how the team's gonna get any upgrades through free agency, so we're not gonna talk about them, yet. Actually, I'd love to pick up Brandon Jacobs if he were to be let go, but that'd never happen and if it did, he'd never come to SF. **Update: Bee-Rows brought up something interesting in a recent blog. FB Leonard Weaver, who's about to become a free agent, is a young, talented fullback with the size to create holes and the hands to make plays. After watching him torch the Niners this season, I'd welcome him to the team with open arms.

So, in conclusion, this is what I think the 49ers should do in regards to free agency this offseason.

1. Re-sign MLB Takeo Spikes.

2. Re-sign KR/PR Allen Rossum.

3. Re-sign Donald Strickland.

4. Sign DE Terrell Suggs. Suddenly, the 49ers' pass rush has become an area of strength. Matt Leinart doesn't have a prayer.

5. Sign OT Jordan Gross. I don't think we'll be able to break the bank for him so instead, IF we can afford it and IF he's available, sign OT Vernon Carey. This last move is wishful thinking at this point so we'll just see what happens. If we miss out on both, I say go sign OG Jason Brown and begin the Chilo Rachal project at RT. In fact, I'd love to have Carey AND Brown but that's way out of our budget. If we miss out on all three, the Niners will have their pick at some fat boys in this year's draft...

6. Sign FB Leonard Weaver.

Don't forget, it's still VERY early to predict anything regarding free agency. There's still a chance these guys don't even hit the market and there's also the chance that another team may release a player that can contribute. Stay tuned...

NEXT: Early Look at the Draft