2022 Offseason thread

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Lynch on Aaron Banks:

“I think there’s this narrative that because Aaron didn’t play, there must be something wrong with him,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Quite the contrary.

“I think he really grew. He really reshaped his body, and we’re really excited about getting him out there and letting him compete."

So here's the thing, John: if you use the 48th pick of the draft on an interior OL, that player plays five snaps despite the RG struggling mightily at times, and is entering season to getting out there and competing, there's something wrong with him. Or the FO royally screwed up the pick.

Banks was the second true guard taken, and he went a half-round before the next interior OL (centers Myers and Humphrey) who went with consecutive picks late in the round and both started significant games for playoff teams (though Myers missed a big chunk of the season with injury). You don't draft a guard who needs to reshape his body with that pick. That's the guy you take in the third or fourth round.

It's absolutely inexcusable that Banks couldn't beat out Brunskill, and there's a strong argument that missing on that pick cost the team a super bowl appearance (particularly because the interior OL many linked to the Niners there was Humphrey, who played at a all-pro level this year). Not to mention that if Banks had replaced Brunskill, Brunskill may very well have been a better choice than Compton at RT, thus improving our two biggest offensive liabilities.

I don't necessarily see an issue with any Olineman sitting for a year but I tend to discount Lynch's glowing assessment of Banks. He seems to talk up players quite a bit that end up going nowhere. So I take his assessments including Lance with a grain of salt.

IMO, it's a huge issue if the second OG drafted doesn't sniff the starting lineup as a rookie. Particularly when you have a player at that position who is a weak link. Certain guys need to start right away, and the second OG taken is one of those guys. That's the expectation.

I really hated that pick. It did cost us several games this year.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

We’re interested in Bobby Wagner

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029289-bobby-wagner-rumors-49ers-rams-cardinals-interested-in-lb-after-seahawks-release

[Pattersonca65]

Commanders traded for Wentz. Ugh. That sucks. I had them pegged as the best landing spot for Garoppolo.

Apparently still a market for Jimmy, but some of those win-now teams have fallen off the list - though Indy is arguably more win-now than anyone and they now have a hole at QB. Somewhat tough to see Indy wanting to give up too much for Jimmy after what they gave up for Wentz last year, but they've got some extra picks following the Wentz trade, so we'll see.

Saints and Colts are listed as the two most likely destination points. Speculation was Jimmy G might not have wanted to go to the commanders and Shanahan's dislike of Snyder might of also played a part

[Pattersonca65]

We’re interested in Bobby Wagner

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029289-bobby-wagner-rumors-49ers-rams-cardinals-interested-in-lb-after-seahawks-release

LOL, it is that time of year again when the 49ers are tied to every significant free agent/trade rumor on the market

[CrimsonCrew]

We’re interested in Bobby Wagner

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10029289-bobby-wagner-rumors-49ers-rams-cardinals-interested-in-lb-after-seahawks-release

LOL, it is that time of year again when the 49ers are tied to every significant free agent/trade rumor on the market

I hope this is just a rumor. Despite being a Seahawk, I love Wagner, but you don't want to be the team signing a pricey (and he'll still be pricey, even if he's going to have to take a pretty significant pay cut) older vet. Besides, we've already got a pro bowl player at the position, and two young guys who have played pretty well at the LB position generally. And all three of those guys were taken inthe third or later. I'd much rather beef up the secondary instead of the LB corps at this point.

[CrimsonCrew]

Commanders traded for Wentz. Ugh. That sucks. I had them pegged as the best landing spot for Garoppolo.

Apparently still a market for Jimmy, but some of those win-now teams have fallen off the list - though Indy is arguably more win-now than anyone and they now have a hole at QB. Somewhat tough to see Indy wanting to give up too much for Jimmy after what they gave up for Wentz last year, but they've got some extra picks following the Wentz trade, so we'll see.

Saints and Colts are listed as the two most likely destination points. Speculation was Jimmy G might not have wanted to go to the commanders and Shanahan's dislike of Snyder might of also played a part

I don't see how the Saints could trade for him. They don't have the cap space to take on his salary.

[CrimsonCrew]

Niners make some solid lower-level moves. Retain Sudfeld, Hasty, Hurst, Givens, McKivitz. Not crazy about the Sudfeld move, but hopefully he doesn't see the field.

I like all of the young guys to some degree. I was pretty excited when the Niners signed Hurst last year. I thought he could be a nice interior pass rusher for us, but just wasn't healthy. Hopefully he gets more of a chance this year. Similar thoughts on Givens. Two good, young, cheap players who help us maintain our DL depth and rotation.

On the other side of the ball, Hasty is a solid third or fourth RB, and McKivitz gives us depth along the OL at least. I thought he did a decent job in week 17, and hopefully he can continue to improve. I'd love to see him take over one of the guard spots or RT at some point.

[wco81]

They need an edge rusher more than an ILB like Wagner, though he's been effective at time on middle blitzes.

[Dodub]

Jeff Gladney anyone?

[DreDinis21]

I REALLY would like to see the Niners go after Chandler Jones and Tim Settle in FA to offset the loss of DJ Jones. Chandler Jones would be a pass rushing nightmare for teams with Bosa opposite. Sign DJ Reed to the secondary in lieu of resigning Kwaun, younger and should be cheaper, but solid numbers in 2021.

Offensively, we need to reestablish our OL for the next 5 years. If we aren't re-signing Laken, LG becomes a need. If Banks is being penciled in that spot, then we would still need help with both Brunskill, who is playing out of position at RG, and depth with RT, where McGlinchey is coming back from an injury w a 50% recovery rate. Mack is also 37 years old when the season starts. I was screaming for us to draft Humphrey last season despite him snapping w his left hand, so we need someone to groom quickly, who can take over for Mack.

[DreDinis21]

They need an edge rusher more than an ILB like Wagner, though he's been effective at time on middle blitzes.

I feel like we are the ONE team that doesn't need him. We have young, cheap, TALENTED LBs outside of Warner still under team control for a couple years. I'd rather spend the $ on Chandler Jones and create a terrorizing pass rush.

[CrimsonCrew]

Yeah, pretty much any position on D is more of a need than MLB. We just can't afford a move like that. And sure, either Wagner or Warner could play OLB, but then you're limiting their value a little bit if you do that. I'd much rather spend the money at DE, CB, or even Tartt's safety spot.

I'll be interested to see what the FA market is like this year. I'm fairly confident we're going to lose Tomlinson, but what's the market going to be like for guys like Jones and Tartt? Got to hope Kinlaw can actually get healthy and help fill the hole DJ Jones will likely leave. Hurst and Givens are different types of players, but both missed a lot of games last year and they can help shoulder some of the interior DL load, too.

And yeah, the OL potentially needs a lot of attention. Curious what guys like Banks, McKivitz, and Moore can do. We may find out sooner than later. Taking Banks over Humphrey was a kick in the crotch at the time, and only more so after one guy looked like a five-year pro bowl vet and the other looked like the second coming of Joshua Garnett.

[DreDinis21]

Yeah, pretty much any position on D is more of a need than MLB. We just can't afford a move like that. And sure, either Wagner or Warner could play OLB, but then you're limiting their value a little bit if you do that. I'd much rather spend the money at DE, CB, or even Tartt's safety spot.

I'll be interested to see what the FA market is like this year. I'm fairly confident we're going to lose Tomlinson, but what's the market going to be like for guys like Jones and Tartt? Got to hope Kinlaw can actually get healthy and help fill the hole DJ Jones will likely leave. Hurst and Givens are different types of players, but both missed a lot of games last year and they can help shoulder some of the interior DL load, too.

And yeah, the OL potentially needs a lot of attention. Curious what guys like Banks, McKivitz, and Moore can do. We may find out sooner than later. Taking Banks over Humphrey was a kick in the crotch at the time, and only more so after one guy looked like a five-year pro bowl vet and the other looked like the second coming of Joshua Garnett.

Garnett situation is apples and oranges to me in comparing him to Banks. This regime drafted Banks with the future in mind. Wait and see approach. With Garnett, he was drafted by one regime, which promptly got fired, then immediately schemed out of the next regime. ...so we never got to see the vision of what Garnett was supposed to bring to the table.

[DreDinis21]

This draft is EXTREMELY deep in the four areas we need the most: OL, Secondary, Edge, and WR. This is the perfect draft to NOT have a 1st rd pick in, loaded in rounds 2-4, where the depth of player truly shines through.

[CrimsonCrew]

Yeah, pretty much any position on D is more of a need than MLB. We just can't afford a move like that. And sure, either Wagner or Warner could play OLB, but then you're limiting their value a little bit if you do that. I'd much rather spend the money at DE, CB, or even Tartt's safety spot.

I'll be interested to see what the FA market is like this year. I'm fairly confident we're going to lose Tomlinson, but what's the market going to be like for guys like Jones and Tartt? Got to hope Kinlaw can actually get healthy and help fill the hole DJ Jones will likely leave. Hurst and Givens are different types of players, but both missed a lot of games last year and they can help shoulder some of the interior DL load, too.

And yeah, the OL potentially needs a lot of attention. Curious what guys like Banks, McKivitz, and Moore can do. We may find out sooner than later. Taking Banks over Humphrey was a kick in the crotch at the time, and only more so after one guy looked like a five-year pro bowl vet and the other looked like the second coming of Joshua Garnett.

Garnett situation is apples and oranges to me in comparing him to Banks. This regime drafted Banks with the future in mind. Wait and see approach. With Garnett, he was drafted by one regime, which promptly got fired, then immediately schemed out of the next regime. ...so we never got to see the vision of what Garnett was supposed to bring to the table.

Yes and no. We had already signed Chip Kelly when we drafted Garnett, so Baalke should have considered the scheme fit. And there's just an element of not having it. It's not as if Garnett went on to do anything at all elsewhere in the league. He's right up there with AJ Jenkins for worst franchise - and likely worst league-wide - first-round busts.

Gotta hope Banks isnt' THAT bad, but early indicators are not good. As said, you don't take the second guard in the draft to wait and see. You take the tenth guard with a wait and see approach. That pick needed to be a guy who could contribute for a playoff team, and the players at the same position who were taken after Banks did contribute.

Maybe a different story if you're taking an OT or CB with that pick, though I'd still expect that guy to at least challenge for playing time in year one. But guard is a low value position, so that's a high pick for the spot. Between Banks and Sermon, we used two valuable day two picks on low-value positions that didn't pan out, at least in year one. It felt like a mistake at the time, and their first year in the league certainly bears that out. Not writing either guy off. But they'll have to make pretty significant contributions going forward just to justify their draft position.

[CrimsonCrew]

Agreed that the draft does seem to set up as nicely as it possibly could to address our weaknesses without a first round pick. Would love to get one or two more second-day picks for Jimmy.

[CrimsonCrew]

I've read a few articles about us getting under the cap, and oddly, none of them has mentioned our most obvious move other than the Garoppolo trade. Samson Ebukam, who was arguably outplayed by guys like Arden Key and Jordan Willis (not even arguably? though he played as many snaps as the other two combined) costs $8.25 million this year. He's not worth that. By cutting him, we would save $7.5 million, which almost puts us under the cap. That seems like an obvious move, frankly whether we trade Jimmy before March 16 or not.

[DreDinis21]

I've read a few articles about us getting under the cap, and oddly, none of them has mentioned our most obvious move other than the Garoppolo trade. Samson Ebukam, who was arguably outplayed by guys like Arden Key and Jordan Willis (not even arguably? though he played as many snaps as the other two combined) costs $8.25 million this year. He's not worth that. By cutting him, we would save $7.5 million, which almost puts us under the cap. That seems like an obvious move, frankly whether we trade Jimmy before March 16 or not.

I'd like to see extensions to Armstead, Moseley, and Ward to drop annual cap hit before we start cutting guys.

IDK how obvious that move is. Towards the end of the season, Ebukam played lights out. Could that be him finally getting used to our system? If we have plans of going after a Chandler Jones type in FA, then great. If we don't, we need the depth and his explosive potential may make his cap hit stomach-able. Maybe even extend him for a lower cap hit. Key played in the interior primarily and Willis was not as effective down the stretch this season.

[wco81]

They going to let DJ Jones walk?

[CrimsonCrew]

I've read a few articles about us getting under the cap, and oddly, none of them has mentioned our most obvious move other than the Garoppolo trade. Samson Ebukam, who was arguably outplayed by guys like Arden Key and Jordan Willis (not even arguably? though he played as many snaps as the other two combined) costs $8.25 million this year. He's not worth that. By cutting him, we would save $7.5 million, which almost puts us under the cap. That seems like an obvious move, frankly whether we trade Jimmy before March 16 or not.

I'd like to see extensions to Armstead, Moseley, and Ward to drop annual cap hit before we start cutting guys.

IDK how obvious that move is. Towards the end of the season, Ebukam played lights out. Could that be him finally getting used to our system? If we have plans of going after a Chandler Jones type in FA, then great. If we don't, we need the depth and his explosive potential may make his cap hit stomach-able. Maybe even extend him for a lower cap hit. Key played in the interior primarily and Willis was not as effective down the stretch this season.

Ebukam improved toward the end of the season, but he was invisible a lot. I was pretty shocked to see that he played 555 snaps. Seemed like a lot less than that.

An extension to Ward could free up some space, though I'd be thinking more a restructure than an extension for Armstead at this point; he's still got three years left on his deal. Moseley's cap hit is $6.5 million. How much less would he get on a multi-year deal? I don't love kicking cap costs down the road, particularly as Lance could be up for an extension as soon as the 2024 offseason.