Last week, we reviewed the first off-season plan for the San Francisco 49ers which involved keeping Jimmy Garoppolo and casting a quarterback in the first round. In today’s second installment, we will change the situation of the quarterback, which is the domino that will affect the result of the rest of the squad.
Let’s go into another edition of the Niners off-season plan, from the free agency to the draft, starting with whoever stays.
Who stay?
- Trent Williams
- Jason Verrett
- Jaquiski Tartt
- Solomon Thomas
- Jordan Willis
- Dontae Johnson
In this scenario, the 49ers retain Tartt and Verrett, while losing Kendrick Bourne and Kyle Juszczyk in the free agency, after not being able to pay the price of any of the players. Losing two players who have been a vital part of your offensive identity in recent seasons can be a difficult pill to swallow at first, but we are judging these off-season plans by the overall outcome and not by one or two players.
Maintaining Verrett and Tartt maintains continuity in the secondary. Entering a new year, with all the uncertainties on the list, the last thing you want is three new players on the secondary. Verrett, Tartt, Jimmie Ward and San Francisco would have to draft or sign a cornerback.
Who signs outside the building?
- WR Cordarrelle Patterson
- C Alex Mack
- EDGE Haason Reddick
- EDGE Everson Griffen
- DT Austin Johnson
- CB PJ Williams
Again, as was the case last week, 49ers would have to sign several more free agents to fill out their list than those listed above, but those are the notable names.
The San Francisco return units were a disaster last season. how do you fix that? Hiring the best NFL return player. Patterson has led the league in kickback yards for the past two seasons. The Bears also used Patterson as a running back and occasional receiver last season. I’m sure Kyle Shanahan could find ways to involve Patterson in the attack.
Addressing the central position is a must, and the easiest connection for Shanahan would be to bring the center that helped him reach the Super Bowl in 2016. Since then, Mack has only lost two games in five seasons. He is not the same All-Pro player, but Mack is an instant upgrade in the center and is already familiar with the attack. At 35, Mack’s price shouldn’t be too high.
Reddick is the award for this class of free agent for San Francisco. It won’t be cheap, and you shouldn’t expect it to be. We know that Paraage and company are geniuses when it comes to manipulating the salary cap and moving money. Giving Reddick a strongly encouraged contract in Year 1, while giving him enough guaranteed money to sign, should fix the problem.
“Hey, Haason, would you like to rush Nick Bosa’s opponent for the next three seasons while doing this with an advantage? Did I add that you will be face to face all the time? Oh, and you’ll be playing Arizona twice, the same team that wasted the first three years of your career. Looks good?”
Griffen is a depth signing who would presumably sign for the veteran minimum, as he is chasing a chance to win everything. Johnson replaces DJ Jones in the middle, while Williams replaces K’Waun.
As we add Reddick, we cannot hire someone to start the opposite of Verrett. We also downgraded the slot, as PJ is not on the same level as K’waun. You will not sign 11 All-Pro in the off-season, and that is the risk you take when entering the draft.
Who is traded?
Over the weekend, Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford agreed to separate from each other. In this scenario, the 49ers exchange general choice No. 12 in the NFL’s 2021 draft, in addition to a compensatory choice from the third round of 21 and 22 to acquire Stafford.
49ers have the advantage, because choice # 12 has more value than anything Washington or Indianapolis can offer. If San Francisco wants to do that, they will.
After failing to negotiate with Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco is forced to renounce Jimmy G, and he is free to sign anywhere. After disembarking Stafford, which would happen on the first day of the league’s new year, March 17, the 49ers retrace Stafford’s contract to give them enough room to maneuver to land Williams and Verrett.
San Francisco has already taken the lead with about $ 4 million after acquiring Stafford and launching Garoppolo, but the restructuring of the contract adds a few million more that the 49ers desperately need.
I’ve heard it all when it comes to Stafford. “He’s going to be killed behind that offensive line.” The 49ers’ offensive line is significantly better than Detroit’s. I cannot emphasize this point enough. Niners finished 2020 in ninth at the adjusted sack rate, while Lions finished 21st. Stafford had to deal with more rushers unlocked in the three games I watched last season than any of the 49er quarterbacks in the entire season.
It doesn’t matter that Stafford knows how to save time in his pocket:
when people dismiss the term mobility, it doesn’t always have to be extreme. it can be as simple as taking a few steps to save time. this move sucks for many QBs. the pocket movement here allows him to take that move, which is not the worst move you will see. pic.twitter.com/nuBZnO4BHc
– KP (@KP_Show) January 24, 2021
Stafford also never had anything close to a recoverable racing game during his time in Detroit. Comparing your situation with Lions to any other QB is useless, as Detroit has proven to be one of the most inept franchises in the NFL.
Stafford would make the talented players around him better. I feel like it has to be said. He would give the boys opportunities to make plays that the current squad quarterbacks would not have.
Who is summoned?
Stafford is worthy of a choice in the first round. He’s turning 33. You would think you had a year left, the way some talk about Stafford. If San Francisco gets 4 to 5 years from Stafford, they’ll win the deal, and we’re looking back to see how that deal will be a rip off in two years.
In the second round, you better find someone who can cover you. I’m investing in Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu cornerback. He will make a name for himself this week in the Senior Bowl, and winning him in the second round will feel like a gift, rather than a reach after this week.
With my choices for Day 3, I continue to invest in wide receivers, offensive lines and pass rushers. If a QB like Kellen Mond falls for the fourth round that I like, then I found my development project.
Outlook
I prefer this scenario to the first. Although a Garoppolo / Lance pair is good, you have one thing in Stafford. You know what you’re getting. There is no hope. “Suppose 49ers enter the draft” hoping “to select a quarterback, that positive thinking has a better chance of backfiring on them than any other result.
There is a risk here, as with any other movement. Losing Bourne means you’re betting on the health of Jalen Hurd or Richie James or even a day 3 left in the draft to produce. Losing Juice means that Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner or UDFA Josh Hokit would need to do the heavy lifting as a defender. Both are difficult tasks.
We updated the defensive line where Arik Armstead is now the third best pass rusher. Assuming Javon Kinlaw takes the next step, I would be thrilled by this defensive line and confident that they would protect my secondary.
However, it all comes down to the quarterback. What we saw in 2019 looked like a mirage. It won’t happen again, and the 49ers know it. Instead of “waiting” for a perfect situation, be the aggressor. Stafford gives San Francisco a chance to win now, later, without mortgaging the future and destroying the squad. You also add talent thanks to the restructuring contracts.
The 49ers will be competitive next season, regardless of who is at the center, thanks to the talent that is already on the list. Competitive is not the goal, however. Stafford is the best of all worlds and takes this team, not the offensive team, to another level.