The ideal 49ers offseason

With free agency set to take center stage Monday afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers are focused on improving their team for 2022.

Let’s take a look at the ideal scenario for the 49ers offseason.

Over the last week the team announced they have re-signed center Jake Brendel, defensive linemen Kevin Givens and Maurice Hurst, running back JaMycal Hasty, offensive lineman Colton McKivitz, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and quarterback Nate Sudfeld to one-year extensions.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the extension for Sudfeld is fully guaranteed for $2 million with the potential to reach $3 million. Those numbers make it appear as though San Francisco is ready for Sudfeld to serve as the backup to Trey Lance.

These moves leave wide receiver Jauan Jennings as the only exclusive rights free agent still unsigned and Azeez Al-Shaair, Daniel Brunskill, Kentavius Street as unsigned restricted free agents. All players expected to be back with San Francisco in 2022.

San Francisco is $6.35 million over the 2022 salary cap and needs to have its top 51 contracts under $208.2 million by 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.

The 49ers have several options to help get below this total. Those include trading quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo or doing new deals with veterans.

After Indianapolis moved on from Carson Wentz, rumors of a Garoppolo trade to the Colts grew louder. Reports also indicate the Steelers, Saints and Panthers have expressed interest in the quarterback. San Francisco should view receiving third-round picks in 2022 and 2023 with the latter having the potential of becoming a second in exchange for Garoppolo as a win. In addition, the 49ers will save $25.5 million against their 2022 salary cap when a trade is completed.

Among veterans likely to see their contracts restructured are Arik Armstead, Jimmie Ward, Samson Ebukam, and Emmanuel Moseley. New deals for Armstead and Ward would provide up to $16.2 million in cap savings.

San Francisco has over 20 unrestricted free agents, many of whom are likely to sign with other teams.

The players who should be at the top of the 49ers list to bring back include defensive linemen Arden Key and Jordan Willis, running back Raheem Mostert, and cornerback Jason Verrett.

Key and Willis were solid role players along San Francisco’s defensive line over the second half of last season. A career season may result in Key landing elsewhere, however, retaining Willis should fit within the 49ers budget.

Mostert and Verrett were both lost for the season to injury during San Francisco’s week one victory over the Lions. Despite struggling with injuries throughout their careers, the veterans are very productive when healthy and could provide strong depth options for the right price.

The 49ers most pressing needs include the following: a deep threat wide receiver, cornerback, safety, and an edge rusher.

A deep threat wide receiver to keep an eye on during free agency is Mack Hollins. Hollins could fill the role handled by Trent Sherfield in 2021.

At 6’3”, Hollins is a big receiver with the ability to win vertically down the field who also excels on special teams.

Playing only 340 offensive snaps for Miami in 2021, Hollins averaged 15.9 yards per reception and four touchdowns. Hollins also recorded 11 tackles on the season.

There are several options if the 49ers decide to fill this role through the draft. The favorite among 49ers fans is Christian Watson.

Watson, 6’5” and 208 pounds, played with Trey Lance and is the type of big-bodied wide receiver Kyle Shanahan tends to lean toward, especially in the middle of his depth chart.

During his time with the Bison, Watson lined up across the formation, another facet to his game that makes him attractive for San Francisco. On any given play he can be found out wide, in the slot, or in the backfield. He is a dangerous kick returner as well.

The wide receiver group in this draft class is very deep, which could push Watson into the middle rounds, a perfect spot for the 49ers.

At cornerback, the 49ers have reportedly shown interest in free agent D.J. Reed.

A fifth-round pick of San Francisco in 2018, Reed slipped out of the 49ers’ hands when they got a little too cute with their roster. Instead of clearing waivers, Reed was claimed by Seattle.

Reed is coming off a career year in 2021, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete only 47.7% of targets and a 67.8 rating on throws into his coverage.

Reed is at his best when playing on the right side of the defense. That fits perfectly with a San Francisco defense featuring Emmanuel Moseley on the left side.

In addition to being strong on the outside, Reed can play in the slot. That type of position versatility is what San Francisco looks for.

If San Francisco decides to address the position through the draft, keep an eye on Coby Bryant from Cincinnati.

A high-level athlete, Bryant possesses the size, aggression, and natural cover skills the 49ers look for in their outside corners.

An area of concern with Bryant is his straight-line speed, which is one of the reasons why he projects as a late day-two or early day-three prospect.

Bryant won the Thorpe reward as the top cornerback in the country last season.

At safety, the 49ers could choose to bring back Jaquiski Tartt.

The 49ers secondary was better with Tartt on the field; however, this is the big question surrounding the free safety. Tartt’s injury history is reminiscent of Jimmy Garoppolo, making him a bit of a risk to sign long term.

Tartt played 727 snaps in 2021, recording 66 tackles including 5 for loss, all career highs.

The seven-year veteran signed a one-year deal worth $987,500 to stay with San Francisco last season. His 2022 contract valuation is approximated at only $2.7 million.

Justin Reid would be a solid replacement through free agency.

Reid shows the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline on any given play. In 2021, Reid allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete only 53.3% of passes into his coverage and a rating of 82.9.

Reid played 780 snaps in 2021, recording 66 tackles and two interceptions. He has missed only 8 games in his first four seasons, playing at least 85% of defensive snaps each year.

The 49ers like their safeties to have the versatility to play down in the box or deep. Cincinnati safety Bryan Cook fits this should San Francisco choose to address the position through the draft in consecutive years. Cook performed well for the Bearcats playing in the slot, single high, and even taking snaps in the slot.

A strong tackler, Cook shows the ability to fill lanes against the run while also being able to disrupt receivers in the passing game.

There’s no such thing as too many pass rushers in the NFL. The best option for San Francisco may be to extend the contract of Samson Ebukam.

Ebukam moved into the starting lineup after Dee Ford was lost for the season. Over the final 14 games of 2021 he recorded 6.5 sacks and 14 hits.

Ebukam has a cap hit of $8.25 million in 2022. If San Francisco can negotiate an extension to lower that to around $4.45 million the veteran could provide terrific value.

If San Francisco chooses to add a pass rusher through free agency, Chandler Jones would be a strong fit. Jones has recorded double-digit sacks in six of his last seven seasons.

San Francisco also needs to consider finding a center for the future. Alex Mack is pondering retirement, and even if he comes back the 49ers should grab a player to groom.

A couple of names that stood out during the NFL combine were Alec Lidstrom from Boston College and Cam Jurgens from Nebraska.

Lidstrom is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons guard Christ Lidstrom, his father also played at Boston College and spent three seasons in the NFL. He has the prototypical size and intelligence Kyle Shanahan looks for in a center, showing the ability to explode off the ball and cut off linebackers when running outside zone.

As is the case with Lidstrom, Jurgens is a fit for Kyle Shanahan’s system. His athleticism jumps off the screen, he moves well and posted a time of 4.92 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.