San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 5 Biggest Positional Upgrades Needed in 2017

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

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The San Francisco 49ers are short on talent, and this season is proof. While nearly every position could use help, Niner Noise breaks down the top-five positions in which the team could use an upgrade this offseason.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Pick a position and, chances are, the San Francisco 49ers could use an upgrade there.

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Sadly, it’s an argument made a year ago at this time and one which will press the franchise throughout this upcoming offseason. But which ones are the most important?

Statistically, the Niners are at — or near the bottom of — nearly every major offensive and defensive category this season. And the 1-11 record through Week 13 tells us as much as we need to know.

Free agency and the 2017 NFL Draft will be of the utmost importance.

But let’s not focus on either, at least not to a great extent. Frankly, it doesn’t matter whether the 49ers use free agency or the draft to make upgrades. Simply put, they need them any way they can get.

We can cross off a couple of spots from the top, based on depth and performance. The offensive line isn’t as glaring a problem as it was a year ago. And adding yet another safety to the bunch would drive most Niners fans mad.

Yet there are plenty of others. Here are the top five.

Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Glenn Dorsey (90) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The New England Patriots defeated the San Francisco 49ers 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: Nose Tackle

The 49ers sure do miss nose tackle Ian Williams.

Williams, feasibly, could return on a free-agent deal, and he’d come much cheaper than the initial five-year deal he signed before his season-ending ankle injury led to all this.

San Francisco’s run defense still ranks dead last in the NFL, and stuffing the interior attack with a 3-4 nose is critical.

The return of veteran defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey alleviated this to a certain extent, but the Niners are still struggling here.

Dorsey will be a free agent this offseason. Who knows if he’s in the Niners’ plans in 2017, but it’s fairly obvious San Francisco needs some interior D-line help to prevent the mass quantities of rushing yards allowed this season from repeating.

December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Inside Linebacker

Equally important as stopping interior runs are inside linebackers. But they’re even more crucial, given their need to cover and provide lateral run-stopping capability — elements for which nose tackles aren’t exactly known.

The 49ers hope perennial All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman returns healthy enough from a season-ending Achilles injury to return to form in 2017.

But they need help alongside him.

A stopgap option might be linebacker Gerald Hodges — also a free agent this offseason — who is currently the highest-graded defender this season, per Pro Football Focus, with an 81.1 mark. Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (pectoral) is another possibility.

And it’s clear neither Nick Bellore or Michael Wilhoite are desirable options.

San Francisco could go into free agency or the draft — something the team didn’t do last offseason. They’ll need to in 2017.

Oct 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Edge Rusher

The 49ers pass rush has been almost entirely absent over the course of this season, thanks largely to outside linebacker Aaron Lynch scantly being on the field.

Through 13 weeks, the Niners rank No. 30 in the NFL with just 20 sacks — a pace that would make the 28 sacks from a year ago look almost respectable.

Stopping the run is going to be important, but this is a passing league. Getting to the quarterback holds a bit more of an edge over run-stoppers and coverage guys. And San Francisco needs pass-rushing help.

Lynch will hopefully be a more of a factor next season. And we can hope second-year pro Eli Harold ascends. Veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks is nothing close to the player he once was, and it’s time to give up on edge rusher Tank Carradine.

Perhaps the Niners target a pass-rusher like Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Or maybe they wait until later and/or find some help on the free-agent market.

It’s imperative they do so.

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) misses a pass against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers won 28-0. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: Wide Receiver

San Francisco has an underutilized, underperforming Torrey Smith and…

Exactly.

The 49ers’ wide receiver production has been abysmal, to put things lightly. While slot receiver Jeremy Kerley has been a reliable and decent target, the Niners lack any sort of major prowess at this position.

Simply put, head coach Chip Kelly’s offense has a bunch of No. 3- and 4-type receivers on the roster and no true No. 1 bona fide target.

As Chris Biderman of USA Today’s Niners Wire pointed out, going after a Round 1 or 2 wide receiver in the NFL Draft tends to work. It might have not been the case for the 49ers back in 2012 (A.J. Jenkins), but that’s more of an exception than a rule.

Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery will be a hot commodity on the free-agent market this offseason. Maybe he’s a target.

Or, maybe the Niners look at a guy like Clemson’s Mike Williams in the NFL Draft.

Whatever the case, an impact wideout would do wonders for this offense and Kelly’s system.

October 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly (center) talks to quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium. The Buccaneers defeated the 49ers 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Quarterback

This position was a pressing need last year, and the 49ers balked at it.

No, neither quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert are the answer over the long run. Maybe the Niners roll with Kap, who can opt out after the end of this season, and try to groom a rookie signal-caller next year.

Perhaps San Francisco uses one of its early round picks in the draft to take someone like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. Or, possibly, there’s a mid-round prospect — a la Dak Prescott — waiting to be had, allowing the Niners to spend higher draft capital to address other needs.

Free agency is an option too, although the market for signal-callers isn’t exactly top notch.