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San Francisco 49ers
Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Neville Hewitt (46) tackles San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The new regime for the San Francisco 49ers isn't afraid to move on as part of their rebuild, and these five players could be cut or traded in 2017.
The San Francisco 49ers entered this offseason without a general manager or a head coach. The search for the new team generals resulted in some top talent withdrawing their name from consideration (see: McDaniels, Josh). In fact, many intriguing, experienced personnel removed their name from consideration even before team CEO Jed York even contacted their agents (see: Ballard, Chris).
In the end, the 49ers were lucky to end up with one incredibly talented, offensively-brilliant head coach. Kyle Shanahan looks poised to bring innovative, exciting football back to the San Francisco 49ers fandom. The search for the team's general manager, however, did not go as smoothly. Instead, current general manager John Lynch came out of left field to put his name in contention for the position.
York eventually hired the duo with matching six-year contracts which in essence guarantees the new team generals the ability to make bold moves. Unencumbered with fear or with the need to be risk averse, the team is poised to make some spirited choices.
This is exactly what the team did throughout free agency. From Lynch's very positive, transparent profile with the 49ers faithful, to the all-in trades made in the NFL Draft. The 49ers are no longer cowering from the pressure of making the wrong decision. Instead, they are focused on making the best decision they can make now and for the future — no regrets.
With this being said, the following suggestions are all within the realm of possibility as they could make the team better now or in a few years. Certainly, there are arguments for keeping the following players but the decision to move on from these men is made only to improve the team.
San Francisco 49ers
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5. Tank Carradine, EDGE
If it wasn't already clear, the new regime has no issues letting go of players both from the old regime (see: Kaepernick, Colin) as well as their own signed players (see: Canon, KD). If players do not fit from a scheme fit or from a personality fit, the personnel czars will easily cut bait.
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This brings us to the first on this list, EDGE rusher Cornelius "Tank" Carradine. Carradine was drafted in the second-round of the 2014 NFL Draft by former general manager Trent Baalke. Since that time, Carradine has started a total of one game and has accrued four sacks.
As is the case with many talented players, Carradine came into the league with a severe knee injury. Funny enough, Baalke was often ridiculed for his ill-advised strategy to draft talented players who fell due to injury.
These players were dubbed Baalke's "Team ALL-ACL" as most had suffered from torn ACL knee injuries. The headliner for team ALL-ACL is none other than Carradine. Never living up to his draft status, Carradine has no reason to continue with the team. With the recent signing of veteran EDGE rusher Elvis Dumervil, Carradine should be released by the end of training camp.
Verdict: Cut
San Francisco 49ers
August 26, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) catches a pass against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Keith Reaser (27) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
4. Keith Reaser, Cornerback
Keith Reaser has been a good cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers. He is a physically talented player with good skills for the position and has solid experience on his résumé. With the Red and Gold, Reaser played sparingly considering he red-shirted his rookie season due to recovering from a torn ACL. Reaser was another member of Baalke's famed ALL-ACL team. Nevertheless, Reaser possesses excellent speed and fantastic short area burst.
He also has three full seasons under his belt as an NFL player. Reaser has shown flashes of potential starter development if given the opportunity. Few players drafted in the fifth-round show such potential. For that reason, the 49ers could look to trade him for a sixth- or seventh-round pick.
With that being said, most teams will probably reason that they can draft a similar player in the 2018 draft. Still, making such a proposition is worth it. Again, few players drafted late ever pan out. Reaser has at least shown flashes.
The biggest issue with Reaser is that he is too small to fit the new Cover 3 defensive scheme. Plus, the 49ers have drafted new players to fit that system. Reaser is certainly expendable barring injury to other players. At the end of training camp, the team should trade him. If there are no takers, expect the team to release Reaser as they bring in other players.
Verdict: Trade for seventh-rounder or cut.
San Francisco 49ers
Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Houston Texans free safety Andre Hal (29) forces San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) out of bounds during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
3. Bruce Ellington, Wide Receiver
Bruce Ellington came into last year with huge expectations from fans and from many members of the media. David Neumann and Oscar Aparicio, who put on "The Better Rivals" podcast as well as write regularly for Niners Nation, repeatedly stated on their podcast how Ellington should flourish in former head coach Chip Kelly's offense.
Unfortunately, Ellington suffered a hamstring injury which placed him on injured reserve for the rest of the 2016 season. This was not new for 49ers fans. Injury has been a recurring theme with Ellington which has limited his time on the field.
His athletic ability projects well to the slot wide receiver position and on the few occasions that he has been able to get on the field he has looked good. This upcoming season will be his last and yet he still an unproven commodity.
Ellington's career totals are 19 catches, 215 yards and two touchdowns. Seeing that last season's starting slot wide receiver Jeremy Kerley was the 49ers leading receiver and they drafted Trent Taylor this season as a slot wide receiver, Ellington will probably be released at the end of training camp unless someone gets injured.
Verdict: Trade
San Francisco 49ers
Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Neville Hewitt (46) tackles San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
2. Vance McDonald, Tight End
This prediction should come to no one's surprise as both Lynch and Shanahan confirmed that other teams expressed interest in 49ers tight end Vance McDonald. During the 2017 NFL Draft, Shanahan stated that other teams contacted them to see if McDonald was available via trade.
In the end, no trade occurred. This isn't to say that the 49ers are no longer interested in shopping McDonald to the right team. Injuries in the NFL happen. That is an unfortunate truth when comes to football.
This opportunity will more than likely present itself again during other teams' minicamps or training camps. This is when a trade is more plausible and more likely that the 49ers will be able to extract the most value.
While many fans feel lukewarm about McDonald's overall talent, he was no less the 49ers starting tight end last season. When given space, McDonald has the wheels and power to make opposing defenses pay. His biggest knock is his inconsistent hands.
Nevertheless, he's talented enough to earn a team's starting NFL tight end spot. Some team will come calling when their starting tight end goes down. More importantly, the 49ers have brought in their guys so they have the ability to pull off a trade of that nature.
Verdict: Trade
Next: No. 1 — Aaron Lynch, EDGE Rusher
San Francisco 49ers
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1. Aaron Lynch, EDGE
This move may come by the end of training camp or by the end of this week. With the recent signing of Elvis Dumervil, Aaron Lynch has officially been put on notice. His continuous weight problems have robbed him of outstanding athletic ability that resulted in high Pro Football Focus grades in his rookie year.
In 2014, Lynch earned a pass rushing productivity mark of 10.3 placing him in the top-10 of EDGE rushers per Pro Football Focus. That season Lynch was an absolute savage, routinely harassing opposing quarterbacks by either getting hits on them or hurrying them up. However, he was hurt injured in 2015 causing him lose plenty of that season.
In 2016, he was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. During that time, Lynch's weight ballooned to almost 300 pounds. His playing weight should be around 260 pounds. When he returned from his four-game suspension he was certainly not the same player.
This offseason, Lynch is once again weighing heavier than his normal playing weight. Lynch has confessed publicly that he needs to get from 280 pounds and into the 26- pound range.
That was two weeks ago. Now, the 49ers have signed 33-year old Elvis Dumervil who is a five-time Pro-Bowler. In his career, Dumervil has amassed 99 career sacks and twice notched 17 sacks per Pro Football Reference. While Dumervil is not the long-term answer, he is certainly capable of holding the fort down until John Lynch can find the franchise guy.
For comparison's sake, Lynch has recorded 14 sacks in three seasons (Pro Football Reference) while having trouble staying in shape and being suspended for four-games. Lynch definitely has talent and he is young which makes him an excellent trade target. The 49ers should see what they can get out of Lynch before they pursue that route. If he shapes up (no pun intended), plays likes his job depends on it (because it does), then maybe the team should keep him.
Otherwise, adios!
Verdict: Trade (Unless he comes ready to play)
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