49ers GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan have put together one winning season since taking over before the start of the 2017 season. Assembling a roster that’s suffered heavily from injury this season, the 49ers sit at 5-7, clawing towards an 8-8 season if they can win three of Washington, Dallas, Arizona, and Seattle in the remaining five games of the year. Nick Mullens is the presumptive starter at QB for the 49ers, going 2-4 as the starter in 2020. While the 2019 season went well for the 49ers, fans are growing tired of the injuries excuse as it continues to be an issue. Lynch needs to stabilize what has been an inconsistent quarterback situation to keep the 49ers relevant long term.
Fix the QB situation – Barring a major deal by luring Dak Prescott or trading for Teddy Bridgewater, the 49ers will need to find a passer in the draft to lead the team in 2021 and beyond. Jimmy Garoppolo looked competitive in the second half of 2019, but his injury prone nature keeps him (and the 49ers) from being a consistent competitor. The 49ers will likely miss out on the big 4 (Lawrence, Fields, Lance, Wilson) unless they are willing to trade up and can find a partner like the Eagles or Panthers. This would leave Lynch drafting Mac Jones/Kyle Trask in the first or a mid round project like Sam Ehlinger or D’Eriq King in the 4th or 5th rounds (49ers do not currently have a 3rd round selection in the 2021 draft). Due to Jimmy’s unreliable health, getting aggressive in trading up allows San Francisco to really take more control of their most important position. A quarterback like Trey Lance, while lacking a lot of passing snaps has demonstrated the “run and shoot” style of play Shanahan might value. Shanahan is one of the coaches who could get the most out of Lance’s mobility and on the run accuracy.
Balance the books – The 49ers will be forced to make some difficult decisions regarding who to resign and who to let walk. Richard Sherman, Solomon Thomas, and Trent Williams are all key players whose contracts run out after ’20. They will not likely be able to pay everyone and will lose some big names in the offseason. Keeping Sherman and Thomas would be nice, but keeping Trent Williams will be essential unless Lynch plans to replace Williams in the draft.
Build the Offense – The impact of players like Henry Ruggs, Stefon Diggs, and Chase Claypool have shown how one player can drastically improve an offense. If the 49ers don’t feel comfortable moving on a QB in the draft early, they can add win value in deep threats like Elijah Moore or Rashod Bateman. Samuel and Aiyuk are great at what they do, but the 49ers still don’t have a great deep speed receiver. Shanahan’s crush on running the ball shows us the value a real deep threat would have for San Francisco in forcing defensive coordinators to move defenders further away from the line of scrimmage.
Replace Robert Saleh – Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has not left the organization yet, but rumors point to his departure after the seasons’ end. Relative newcomer DL coach Kris Kocurek may get the nod, as the defense improved noticeably after he joined the team in 2019. Linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans who’s had success working with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and played as a successful linebacker for Houston for several seasons boasts a strong resume for the job as well.
Song of the post is Show Me by San Holo
Gridiron Seasonal 