Open Rants by TheShivster

While 2018 can be seen as a failed season due to injury and underperformance, we can look up to the 2019 offseason for a glimmer of hope. While I don't believe John Lynch or Kyle Shanahan would be on the hotseat this upcoming season (due to the nature of the rebuild they inherited) this season we really need to see cornerstone players to emerge, and add some quality starters to this team.

Our cap space for this season is (as of 3/6/19) about $67,500,000. I feel the floor of this cap will be $30,000,000 if they choose to be aggressive, or middling towards $50,000,000 if they take a more conservative route.  

Here are my expectations of team needs, and what I expect them to be willing to spend at each position, or where to acquire help from:

#1: Edge Rusher- Obviously the bane of the defense has been edge rusher. Since the departure of Aldon Smith, we haven't had a dominant pass rusher from the edge. I believe the addition of consistent pressure is important to every team, but especially for the 49ers if they want to open up pass rushing lanes for Deforest Buckner and Solomon Thomas. While I feel our most likely route would be to acquire a Nick Bosa from the draft and sign a decent rotational pass rusher, they could decide to splurge at the position in an attempt to help out the back end. This could be through trade: Players like Everson Griffen, Michael Bennet, Olivier Vernon, etc. Could be through free agency (though overpays come into play): Trey Flowers, Ezekiel Ansah, Preston Smith, Cameron Wake. My prediction is the 49ers will pay around $7,000,000 on Cameron Wake to be a rotational pass rush, and draft Nick Bosa to add that premier blue chip pass rusher. 

#2: Free Safety- From evaluating the 49ers blueprint, they seem to like to through lots of bodies at the position and haven't shown the desire to put big money into the position. I expect them to address the position in the offseason, but not break the bank on anything. Potential free agent targets could be: Eric Weddle