Feb. 20 — First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players. The deadline to designate players is March 6 at 2 p.m. MT.
Feb. 27 – March 5 — NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
March 12 -14 — Legal tampering period for NFL teams to negotiate new contracts with 2018 free agents. Deals cannot be signed until the start of the new league year, at Noon PT on March 14.
March 14 — Start of the 2018 league year. At Noon PT , new contracts can be signed and the trading period begins.
March 25-28 — Annual league meeting in Orlando.
April 2 — Teams that hired new head coaches after the end of the 2017 season can begin offseason workout programs.
April 16 — Teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs.
April 20 — Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 26-28 — NFL draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
SUCH EXCITEMENT!!
Anyhow, what with the only cool thing coming up that is 49er-relate, we have free agency and the draft.
Biggest Needs in No Particular Order:
Wide Receiver: If this season has shown us anything it is that Jimmy G can make a pedestrian WR corps look pretty special. That being said, we will get Pierre Garcon back, as well as the resurgent Marquise Goodwin. Trent Taylor proved to be a decent slot/3rd down option as well. The rest were meh. I suspect a couple FA signings to bolster this group. Donte Moncrief is a possible guy who wouldn’t cost too much. the big FAs (Davonte Adams) will likely just re-up. We could even trade down in the 1st round and go for a guy like the previously mentioned Courtland Sutton out of SMU.
Cornerback: Despite being thin at the position, the 49ers traded Rashard Robinson for a song (and a 5th round pick) from the Jets midway through the 2017 season. Apparently he had gotten into a couple fights on the team plane and was a bit of a head-case on the sidelines. To further that thought, Robinson was arrested last night for possession of edibles and driving erratically. Ahkello Witherspoon showed up his freshman season and played very well. Dontae Johnson didn’t. We desperately need another corner.
Will Minkah Fitzpatrick be there with the 9th/10th pick? Probably not what with CB being so in-demand, but there are some FAs available, notably Malcolm Butler and Patrick Robinson.
Edge Rusher: Another huge need is the pass rush. While the D line is fairly stout against the run, with a healthy 3.8 yard average gain per, the pass rush was a woeful 26th in the league with 30 sacks. We won ourselves out of the Bradley Chubb sweepstakes, so he’s out. However, BC’s Harold Landry and Okla’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are a coupe guys that most likely will be available. Guys out there available are Koly Ealy of the jets (who was tossed by NE), or Ezekiel Ansah. Both would be a vast improvement over what we’ve gotten.
And finally:
Guard: Yeah yeah, Bergs, guard. When Joshua Garnett went down, the thinness at that position reared its ugly head in a big way. Zane (beat the) Meatles, Laken Tomlinson, and Brandon Fusco all proved to be pieces of dried dog shit. The Niners need to address this with likely an FA or two, and a draft pick or two. The FA gets, are Andrew Norwell from the Panthers (he’s gonna cost), and Justin Pugh of the New York Football Giants. Tomlinson may be the only one to survive the offseason. Beadles and Fusco need to depart.
The draft? Say it with me, Bergs: Quentin Nelson.
Since free agency happens before the draft, it’s hard to figure how they go in the draft. That being said, I think the needs for the team break down this way:
- Edge Rusher
- Cornerback
- Guard
- Wide Receiver
I know we keep drafting for defense, and defensive linemen at that (3 in a row), but still and all, this is our biggest hole. A strong pass rush helps out for the next need, cornerback.
The O? well, yeah, the interior line play was terrible in 2017. The hope that with better guard play will come better play from Daniel Kilgore. He’s only 30 and should have some good years left, but his play suffered badly last year.
The rest? RB depends on what Hyde does. LB is thin. safety is in pretty good shape with Jimmie Ward, Jaquizz Tartt, and the rest coming back from injury. reid ended up playing well, and the young guys like Colbert and even CB Greg Mabin played well in limited time.
_______________________________
Free agency will give us a hint as to the direction they go. Funny thing is, I really think that what we say here jives with what actually happens. Unlike the Baalke era where Baalke NEVER drafted for need and instead seemingly picked random names out of a hat. Most famously, AJ Jenkins, whose name was placed in an envelope before the draft as the guy they desperately wanted. WOOF!
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
I am so not into the playoffs this year, I just don’t want to see NE or Pitt get another SB. But it looks like one of em will. Hopefully the SF Giants do some good stuff in the meantime because it is gonna be a lot of wait time until FA.
Yeah, I’ll watch the games mainly because i like watching football, but I sure ain’t pulling for NE, Pittsburgh, or Philly, but I could live with the Saints or Vikes. NE’s defense isn’t scaring anyone. I don’t think they get by Pittsburgh.
Watch the ’81 Championship game video I posted. That’ll get you pumped. For me, I’d like to see the Eagles or Vikings go all the way, mostly because neither has before. Same here, screw Pittsburgh and NE. It’s also hard not to root for Drew Brees. The dude is a phenomenon.
Good assessment on the off season, Chuck. Much too long of a wait for me.
Yeah. Baseball will be cold comfort as the Giants will likely be shit for a few years.
It all started with the Duffy trade. Bad mojo.
Major problem! Bears just hire Northern Womens offensive line coach. That probably means they are seriously looking mat Quenton Nelson.
Yeah, he will probably be gone by 10. My guess is a DB or OLB.
draft WR, CB, G , TE or free agency . jimmy graham anyone ?
No to Graham. He doesn’t block, and is getting old. I think we are fine at TE for now. Kittle just has to stop with the V McDrops. If he settles down, then Celek and Hinkutati should be fine as backups.
Maybe Brady gets a divorce or loses the SB or Big Ben drops his pants on the field and is led away in straight jacket of some sort. There’s always something to hope for such as a new scandal or a new firing. I hope the Vikings take the whole thing but that’s just me. I don’t expect anyone to follow my thinking…….BLEEP!
I always kind of felt a little sorry for the Vikes, they went to the big game 4 times and never won one. Football was tough in the 70’s. I hope they take it all too.
Great thought Winder, a good friend of mine is a Vikes fan too !
Another reason I like the Vikes is that Hugh McElhenney(sp) was on the team their first year
Nice post Chuck ! A free agent corner would allow us a shot at the best G in the draft after nelson ! thoughts anyone ?
anyone ?
WR in 1 and G Braden Smith in 2 !
One of those free agents CB’s too please ! Vontea davis is out there too !
Graham as a passcatcher and Kittle for both ?
Once we sign Jimmy G. I have a feeling that we will have options in FA. SF will be an attractive destination. I think we fill enough holes to be competitive next year.
I concur!……. Woof!
Reuben Foster arrested on marijuana charges in AL. Lovely. Not the best start to the offseason:
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-Reuben-Foster-arrested-on-marijuana-12495489.php
I don’t know what the leagues policy on this is but I expect he will be suspended for it. Some players just can’t leave it alone. Very foolish.
Yeah, just stupid. It violates the league’s drug policy so no doubt he’ll be suspended.
I get the impresson that Foster is still a child. He has football skills but is still a child with all the lack of judgement that a child will bring to everyday life.
I read where the union is trying to get pot off the banned list but I doubt that will ever happen. Hopefully Foster isn’t a total knucklehead and someone can make him realize just what he is screwing up.
New thread. THe NFL is in the stone age. Pot shoul dbe removed from the list of banned substances. Esp when so many abuse opioids for pain management.