San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers: A Way-Too-Early Prediction of the 2017 Starting Lineup

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Niner Noise has the long game in mind as we look at a way-too-early prediction of the San Francisco 49ers and what their starting lineup will be to kick off 2017.

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball for a first down in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

OK, so we’re two weeks into the 2016 NFL season, and we have only a small amount of information to summarize everything San Francisco 49ers.

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So why on earth would we want to predict what the Niners’ 2017 starting lineup is going to be?

Well, we like predictions. Predictions are fun.

Two weeks’ worth of stats, film and evidence can tell us some about what head coach Chip Kelly’s squad is going to do this season. It’s not likely San Francisco will suddenly feature a standout wide receiver outside of Torrey Smith.

And who knows what the 49ers’ quarterbacking situation will be a year from now. Don’t worry, we’ll predict that too.

Defensively, the Niners have plenty of up-and-coming pieces. Some may be pushing out older, established veterans as we slowly work towards Week 1 of 2017.

We won’t go as far as predicting who San Francisco will target in the draft, nor will we try to guestimate which free agents general manager Trent Baalke — if he’s still with the team — will target with the 49ers’ considerable amount of cap space.

Instead, we’ll mention free agent or rookie, if such an accolade applies to a starter.

Let’s start things off with the most exciting group: special teams.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers punter Bradley Pinion (5) punts the ball during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams

Kicker: Free Agent

Punter: Bradley Pinion

Long-Snapper: Kyle Nelson

Unless 41-year-old kicker Phil Dawson elects to keep playing beyond 2016 — he might — it’s hard to see the 49ers doing anything but looking elsewhere to supplement this position a year from now.

San Francisco could take a rookie kicker in the 2017 NFL Draft or via undrafted free agency. But the last two Niners kickers have been veterans — Dawson and David Akers.

This will be the case again.

Punter Bradley Pinion isn’t going anywhere. And no one knows long-snapper Kyle Nelson’s name, outside of the die-hard fans. That’s exactly what you want out of the position.

Dec 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) makes an interception on a pass intended for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline (83) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Safety

Free Safety: Eric Reid

Strong Safety: Jaquiski Tartt

Veteran safety Antoine Bethea still has one more year on his current contract. But the 32-year-old defensive back is starting to show his age within the Niners backfield.

He was out of position numerous occasions this preseason, and his blown coverage against Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen in Week 2 wasn’t a good look either.

Second-year pro Jaquiski Tartt will have another year of NFL action under his belt when 2017 kicks off. And this should be the time where San Francisco slides him into a traditional safety role instead of a hybrid position.

Tartt’s coverage abilities should be honed by then. Young defensive backs often struggle early in their pro careers — see Jimmie Ward — so Tartt would be worth the call.

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers right cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) and cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) reacts in the game against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers won 28-0. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback

Jimmie Ward

Rashard Robinson

Will Redmond (Nickel)

As stated on the previous slide, defensive back Jimmie Ward needed about a year to put to bed any notions of a first-round bust.

He’s now one of the better 49ers corners, and he’ll stay in a starting role into 2017.

But moving rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson up the depth chart makes sense too. At least based off what we’ve seen so far.

Despite his checkered collegiate past, Robinson is starting to show signs of being a shutdown corner. At least according to Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus:

Rashard Robinson played eight snaps in coverage and was not targeted. He's yet to see a pass his way in 31 coverage snaps this season #49ers

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) September 19, 2016

Who knows if Robinson keeps this up all season. But initial indications for the 6-foot-1 defensive back have been good.

This would, of course, push veteran corner Tramaine Brock out of the picture. But the Niners want to get their best defenders on the field. Robinson could easily take over that role.

Rookie Will Redmond is slated for slot duties, simply because the 49ers like to place developing corners into this role. They did it with Ward as well as Chris Culliver before.

December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker

Inside Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman, free agent

Outside Linebacker: Aaron Lynch, Eli Harold

Perennial All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman will be starting on the inside next season. No questions there. But let’s go ahead and guess the Niners will target a free agent ILB at some point this offseason.

This could mean re-signing linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong, who will be a free agent, if his pectoral injury isn’t too much of a worry beyond this season and the 49ers feel he can replicate the small sample size from 2016.

Linebackers Michael Wilhoite and Gerald Hodges will be free agents too.

San Francisco could still target someone in the NFL Draft to fill this void. But it’s not likely going to be an early round pick. Probably a mid-rounder, who will take a year or so to develop.

On the outside, the Niners roll with Aaron Lynch and Eli Harold. Veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks is pushed out of the picture and, potentially, released in order to free up even more cap space.

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) looks on before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line

Defensive Tackle: Quinton Dial

Defensive Ends: DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead

2017 will be the year in which the 49ers fully employ 6-foot-7 bookends DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead in an every-down basis. Heck, they may be leaning that way anyway.

Nothing wrong with that.

One move, however, will be to lodge defensive tackle Quinton Dial into the nose position.

Dial has been one of the better run-stuffers in the NFL this season, according to Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus:

After two weeks, Quinton Dial leads all 3-4 DE with a run stop percentage of 13.2%. #49ers

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) September 20, 2016

This means San Francisco passes on re-signing free-agent-to-be nose tackle Ian Williams, who was the Niners’ top-ranked defender in 2016. Williams’ injury history means the 49ers might be looking to solidify the defensive line with more reliable players.

Dial is emerging as one.

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers offensive guard Joshua Garnett (65) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Line

Center: Daniel Kilgore

Guards: Joshua Garnett, Zane Beadles

Tackles: Joe Staley, Trent Brown

Here’s one good piece of news — the 49ers offensive line is jelling right now and playing oh-so much better than 2015.

And there shouldn’t be too many changes entering 2017.

The only swap from what we’ve seen the previous two weeks to what will be on the field a year from now is rookie guard Joshua Garnett taking over the left guard spot, pushing veteran Zane Beadles over to the right.

Current right guard Andrew Tiller is going to be a exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, so it’s likely San Francisco retains him as insurance.

Former first-round pick Anthony Davis shouldn’t command any faith at this point. Could he regain his former starting spot? Sure. But if he’s still on the roster in 2017, his role is likely going to be one of a swing tackle.

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers won 28-0. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Tight End

Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek

We list two tight ends here because head coach Chip Kelly doesn’t use a fullback. And tight end Garrett Celek’s extension last offseason means he’s not going anywhere for a while.

But fourth-year pro Vance McDonald is going to be a free agent in 2017. A hunch would suggest the 49ers extend him between now and when he’s scheduled to hit the open market. 2016 is shaping up to be a career year for the one-time second-round bust.

Especially when we see plays like these:

It’s a 34-27 ballgame after that big @VMcDonald89 TD.#49ers scoring drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:16. #SFvsCAR https://t.co/8SB2Yn8nBq

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 18, 2016

McDonald might have needed a few years to finally turn the page and fix his stone-hands reputation.

Finally.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) lines up during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receiver

Torrey Smith, free agent/rookie

Bruce Ellington (slot)

The 49ers need a lot of help at wide receiver this offseason. It’s becoming clear the young crop of wideouts the Niners had entering 2016 isn’t going to cut it. And while rookie Aaron Burbridge could develop into something nice, we simply haven’t seen it. Not in the preseason. Not through Weeks 1 and 2.

Wide receiver may be one position San Francisco elects to splurge on in free agency. Again, let’s not speculate who is targeted. But the Niners may choose to make some upgrades here.

Or the 49ers land a talented rookie prospect early in the draft, maybe Round 1 or 2. Who knows?

Bruce Ellington still gets the call as San Francisco’s slot receiver. Head coach Chip Kelly would enjoy using a player with Ellington’s skill set — barring injury — so don’t expect this to change dramatically.

Oct 11, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) carries the ball as New York Giants outside linebacker Mark Herzlich (94) defends during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Giants won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Running Back

Carlos Hyde

Did you think it would be anyone else?

Well, it could be. No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde needs to prove he can stay healthy and consistent over the course of a 16-game season. He has yet to do this.

2016 could still be his breakout year. And we know he can thrive within head coach Chip Kelly’s inside-zone scheme.

Again, health.

If this becomes a problem, and let’s hope it doesn’t, the 49ers may explore adding a running back via free agency or the NFL Draft.

But that’s the lesser of both scenarios. San Francisco will roll out Hyde in 2017.

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) smiles as he looks into the stands after the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback

Colin Kaepernick

Alright, 49ers fans. The slide with the greatest question mark and the largest area of uncertainty.

Let’s go with Colin Kaepernick under center to start 2017. Is he the long-term solution? Probably not. But there’s a reason why he starts next season.

First off, he’s under contract. And while there seems to be an endless buzz about general manager Trent Baalke wanting to get rid of Kap, indications are head coach Chip Kelly still wants to see if he can work with the embattled quarterback.

Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole had to say about it all:

Make what you will of a Cole report. He did suggest former 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis was considering a return from retirement, after all.

But it’s no secret there’s tension between Kap and the front office.

And yet Baalke, not Kaepernick, may be the odd man out this offseason.

What about Blaine Gabbert? Well, he’s going to be a free agent this offseason. His less-than-stellar play through two weeks might be enough to convince Kelly and Co. he has no business starting beyond this season.