49ers. Mandatory credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Now that we are officially looking at the 2021-22 NFL season and leaving the crazy horse racing season behind, it is time for the draft season simulation. While the simulations that highlight teams choosing early, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, NY Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, are fun, instead, let’s look at teams that are just one or two players from playing in the Super Bowl. We take a look here at the San Francisco 49ers.
Don’t forget that the 49ers were less than a quarter away from raising the Lombardi Trophy just a year ago, if not for a heroic lap in the fourth quarter, courtesy of Patrick Mahomes. 2020 was not a kind year for any stretch of the imagination for the 49ers on the injury front.
The 49ers were left without defender Jimmy Garoppolo for much of the season, defensive playmaker Nick Bosa, tight end stud George Kittle and a number of other major contributors. Even though they probably suffered the most injuries in the league, the 49ers still managed to stay competitive in most games thanks to coach Kyle Shanahan.
Looking for team needs for 49ers
With several key players ready to return for the start of the 2021/22 season, the 49ers will be back in search of the NFC West crown. There has been some doubt that the 49ers are interested in a new quarterback, be it in acquiring a veteran or recruiting a newcomer, but coach Kyle Shanahan has said several times now that they are playing with Jimmy Garoppolo.
Although it could just be a coach lecture, we have no reason to believe that Jimmy Garoppolo will not be the 49ers’ defender after these comments from Shanahan: “You look at every avenue and see if there’s anything out there that can get you a ton better . ” Shanahan went on to say:
“That’s the same answer for all positions, but look at Jimmy, see what he did, see where he is financially. It is better to have a very good answer if you are going to find something better than that, because Jimmy showed in a year that he is the guy who can take us to the Super Bowl, and I also think that Jimmy will get much better the more he plays . “
Let’s take a look at how the 49ers can reorganize this draft to make another run at the Super Bowl.