Open Rants by TheShivster

Saw some posts on offseason topics, so decided to do my own.

Being a niners fan, the only thing that brought me joy this past season was the speculation of having an excellent offseason, with how horrid the regular season has gone. 

First way to start the offseason has to be the firing of Trent Baalke and Chip Kelly. Baalke ended any hopes of starting a dynasty by driving Jim Harbaugh out, and refusing to sign few impact free agents to finalize an already great team (Like denver did). Kelly on the other hand just isn't cut out to coach in the NFL anymore with his Scheme over players mentality, and isn't the long term solution anyways.

When it comes to the GM job, Chris Ballard is a popular candidate, and a realistic one. With the potential of the number 2 pick this coming season, and plenty of cap room to boot, the 49ers roster is almost a blank canvas that any GM could really mold. When it comes to the head coaching position, popular names include Kyle Shanahan, Anthony Lynn, and Teryl Austin as realistic options to run the team past 2017. Out of the group Anthony Lynn could present the most upside as a head coach, however is unlikely to leave Buffalo when they inevitably fire Rex Ryan.

For, they need to add a little more than Zane Beadles like they did in 2016 and they'll need to draft playmakers. They'll have approximately 45,700,000 which jumps to 68,000,000 when they (presumably) release Antoine Bethea and Colin Kaepernick, and the number two pick. While Kaepernick has had a few OK games, its not worth the risk to bring him back to bring drama in the locker room, while most fans can see Bethea is a step slow this season, and may be better off playing for a contender as Jaquiski Tartt should receive solid playing time. With this moves accounted for our needs include: QB, WR, DT, OLB, ILB, and overall depth. The all these needs play huge roles in our ineptness this season, and with injuries we are forced to play special teamers which results in huge rushing numbers for the opponents. With the amount of Cap they possess the management should definitely spend around 20-30 million in order to address these needs. While getting Dont'a Hightower or Jamie Collins would be ideal to fit in as the 3 down linebackers we need, its hard to envision their respective teams letting get past the franchise tag phase, and its tough to imagine any quality free agent would join us without us significantly overpaying. At WR, realistic options include Kamar Aiken, Brandon Lafell, Michael Floyd, and Brian Quick. For drafting, players like juju smith-schuster, Corey Davis, and Courtland Sutton in the 2nd our 3rd rounds wouldn't hurt. Overall just players with size. At DT having a healthy Ian Williams coming back doesn't hurt, but overpaying for free agent Dontari Poe wouldn't be a bad call at all, but in the draft Johnathon Allen would bring an instant impact player. For the pass rush Aaron Lynch needs some help , and with the many option in the draft and free agency they could definitely add some impact players. From free agency Chandler Jones and Melvin Ingram represent some quality talent that would come at a palatable cost, but if they were to splurge on the pass rush Jabaal Sheard would be the move. In the draft it would definitely be wise to get Myles Garret as he presents Von Miller type upside, and would create a young and dangerous pass rush between himself, Lynch, Armstead, and Buckner. For ILB, realistic free agent options are definitely weak, and probably result in the signing of someone like Manti Te'o or Kevin Minter, while resigning Hodges. In the draft getting players like Raewon Mcmillan or Jarrad Davis in the third round represent better options with upside. Finally at QB, while drafting a player like Deshone Kizer 2nd overall is tempting, the talent in Allen and Garret can't be ignored and i'd much rather them draft a QB in the 2nd or 3rd if it means getting a premier pass rusher.

Overall with our needs right now, its hard to see us competing for anything over the next few years, but just by adding some talent in the talent less roster, and actually getting a direction for the franchise would be a step in the right direction.