.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) celebrates with wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (13) his touchdown scored against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers have strengthened their roster in free agency and the draft, here we rank the top five position groups on the team.
Despite additions at pretty much every position on the roster, the San Francisco 49ers still lack talent at a number of positions. Thus is the state of a team that's trying to rebuild to get back to their former glory.
But the moves general manager John Lynch has made during free agency and the draft process have given certain areas of the team a much stronger look. Though a rookie at his position, Lynch has proven already he's worth his salt with the moves he's made.
San Francisco is particularly stacked on the front seven, and well off in a few other areas. For a deeper look here, we rank top five position groups on a roster that has undergone a significant remodel.
Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
5. Wide Receiver
More from NFL Spin Zone
The 49ers receiving corps was a mess in 2016, as Torrey Smith was ineffective and under-used, while he again failed to play all 16 games due to injury. San Francisco's lack of talent at the receiver position was evidenced by the fact Jeremy Kerley was able to come in off the street late in preseason and lead the team in catches and yards.
Kerley was deservedly rewarded with a contract extension and figures to be the 49ers' primary slot receiver. However, the burden on him has been significantly eased. The 49ers now have a legitimate starter in Pierre Garcon and a true deep threat in Marquise Goodwin.
Add in rookie Trent Taylor, an intriguing slot receiver who had a drop rate of just 2.84 percent in 2016 (according to Pro Football Focus) and a wideout in Aldrick Robinson, who is familiar with Kyle Shanahan's system, and the 49ers' receiving depth chart looks a lot deeper.
The Niners are probably still lacking a true starter across from Garcon, but Brian Hoyer will have substantially more legitimate options than Colin Kaepernick had in 2016.
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
4. Safety
The 49ers actually have less in the way of depth at safety after having cut ties with Antoine Bethea, but their starting duo at the position has actually improved as a consequence.
Jimmie Ward is once again undergoing a position change but is moving back to position he played in college, free safety, where he also played quality snaps in 2015 due to injuries. Ward has posted the highest tackling efficiency rate among cornerbacks since 2014, per PFF, and his skills in that area should translate well to the safety position.
49ers picked up their fifth-year option on DB Jimmie Ward, who has been one of the surest-tackling CBs since 2014.
Will play safety in 2017 pic.twitter.com/4xO1RogXHV
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 3, 2017
There can also be little doubt over Ward's ability to find the football — he had 12 pass deflections in 2016 — and Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, speaking on KNBR, believes his move back to safety could be a home run due to his skills in coverage and as a run defender.
The main concern surrounding Ward will be whether he has the athleticism to fulfil the single-high safety role in Robert Saleh's defense.
But he is a better fit for that job than Eric Reid, who lacked the athletic profile to hold up at free safety consistently, with his shortcomings exacerbated by playing next to the declining Bethea. Reid is moving to strong safety and should flourish at a position in which he is likely play down in the box, providing him with the opportunity to be an enforcer in the middle of the field.
Jaquiski Tartt is set to back up Reid and is also a strong fit for the box safety role, having struggled in coverage so far in his career. With no clear backup for Ward at this point, an injury to him would give San Francisco a dilemma at the position.
But, provided he can stay healthy, Ward and Reid have the potential to develop into an exciting tandem on the back end.
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
3. Running Back
For all the talk of Carlos Hyde potentially being on his way out with the 49ers, it is perhaps being forgotten that he is a quality starter coming off his best season in the NFL. Only an injury in Week 16 prevented Hyde from reaching 1,000 yards rushing in another season where he missed multiple games. He ended up 12 yards short of that mark, but had 1,151 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns.
Hyde is entering a contract year and there are doubts as to whether he fits into Kyle Shanahan's system, leading to reports like the one from NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, who claims there is a legitimate chance rookie Joe Williams unseats him at starter.
With Hyde's combination of downhill power and agility, it would be a surprise to see him not at least get a shot. But unlike last year, it seems the 49ers do have options to replace him should they choose to do so or if Hyde proves to have further durability issues.
Free-agent acquisition Tim Hightower averaged 4.1 yards per carry for the Saints last year while putting up 748 yards from scrimmage. But the more exciting options come in the form of fourth-round pick Williams, who has been praised for his speed, wiggle and ability to break through arm tackles and undrafted free agent Matt Breida.
The former Georgia Southern back, Breida, posted the top running back score in Zach Whitman's SPARQ rankings, which measure player athleticism, and had over 3,000 yards rushing over two seasons before a disappointing 2016 campaign saw him post 646.
Providing an extra spark from the backfield is Kyle Juszczyk, who is arguably the best fullback in the league and is a substantial threat as a receiver, having caught 97 balls at an average of 7.9 yards per reception, making him a prime candidate for the H-back role in Shanahan's offense.
It is early, but there is already talk of both Williams and and Breida making the roster. And if that turns out to be the case, then the 49ers will have plenty of players capable of at least spelling Hyde or potentially replacing him, as well as a fullback in Juszczyk who can be a legitimate difference-maker.
Apr 28, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers first round draft pick linebacker Reuben Foster answers questions from the media during the press conference at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
2. Linebacker
San Francisco was a mess at linebacker last year, however, that does not figure to be the case in 2017. Though there have been some concerns over his shoulder, the decision to trade back into the first round to select Reuben Foster gives the 49ers a linebacker who can contribute as a run defender, in coverage and as a blitzer.
He should take some of the pressure off NaVorro Bowman, who has declined in coverage. But, provided he returns to his best following an Achilles injury, figures to remain one of the better linebackers in the league.
The questions at the position surround free-agent acquisition Malcolm Smith, who has experience and has excelled as a run defender, but received a grade of just 43.8 in coverage from PFF last season. Smith was paid as if he is going to be a starter but, with Ahmad Brooks still leading the team in sacks in 2016 and Eli Harold showing some signs of improvement, he could have plenty of competition.
It remains to be seen if this regime will be as high on Ray-Ray Armstrong as the previous one appeared to be. However, the depth they now possess at the position at least means it is unlikely they have to start special teamers like they did with Nick Bellore when injuries hit in 2016.
May 5, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (96) looks on during the 49ers Rookie Minicamp at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
1. Defensive Line
The overriding question surrounding the 49ers' talent on the defensive line surrounds where they are all going to play. No-one can really deny that they are stacked with talent on the defensive trenches. The 49ers have three first-round picks on the line having followed the selections of Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner by spending the No. 3 overall selection on Stanford's Solomon Thomas.
Thomas' addition gives the 49ers another player who excels at rushing the passer from the interior, with Buckner having shown his promise in that area by putting up six sacks in his rookie year.
Ronald Blair got to the quarterback on three occasions and is another promising young player in the rotation, and San Francisco will hope sixth-round pick D.J. Jones can provide its front with another run-stuffer to go with Earl Mitchell and Quinton Dial. Mitchell figures to be the 1-tech in the Niners' new 4-3 front, but the biggest concern surrounds what to do with Armstead.
Buckner and Thomas are likely to kick inside on pass-rush downs and have the ability to cause chaos on the interior. But it is tough to see where Armstead projects if the Niners want all three on the field at once. Per, The Niners Wire, he has received work at LEO defensive end at voluntary minicamp.
Armstead lacks the athletic ability to really excel at that spot. But if the 49ers can find out a way to get the trio making an impact at the same time, then San Francisco's D-line should prove a nightmare for opponents to deal with.
