tOffical 2016 Offseason Thread

[NinerSickness]

I don't think it's too early to talk offseason. 2016 is going to suck just like 2015 did, so I say strap in for a long rebuilding stretch; do it the right way & don't cut corners. Here's what I'd do at this point.

Head Coach: Sean Payton

FA wish list at this point:

1. Aldon Smith
2. Alshon Jeffery
3. Aldon Smith
4. Dwaaaaaaaaaaaaayne Allen
5. Aldon Smith

Extend: Vance, Tank, Lemonier

Let Walk or cut: Reid (unless he'll sign for dirt cheap), Brooks (unless he'll move to ILB), Boldin, Boone, Dorsey (injury prone at this point), and possibly Dial.

...Then in the draft, I'd trade down to the 15 -25 range in the draft & take that CB (White) from LSU and trade back up to the same range and take Deforest Buckner. Then I'd trade up again in the late 1st and draft Connor Cook.

...I'd take 2016 to get the youngsters acclimated and play Gabbert; Cook wouldn't start a game. I'd keep an eye out for any O-linemen who were on the trading block and go O-line & ILB the following offseason.

2017 staring lineup:

QB: Cook
WR1: Torrey Smith
WR2: Alshon
RB: Hyde & company
FB: Miller
LT: ??? Probably Staley
LG: ???
C: ???
RG: ???
RT: ???
TE: Dwayne Allen

LDE: Buckner
NT: Ian Williams
RDE: Arik
LOLB: Lynch
ILB: ???
ILB: Bow
ROLB: Aldon
CB1: White from LSU
CB2: Dontae Johnson
FS: Ward
SS: Tartt

Pimary backups:

Tank in pass-rush situations at DE & LB; Vance in 2-TE sets.

Biggest questions:

Can they develop a dominant O-line again?
Will Gabbert play well enough in 2016 to make him sucker trade bait like Alex was?
Do the Niners go to a 4-3 instead? Lynch & Carradine at DE?

[I_am_1z]

No idea how Connor Cook doesn't project to everyone as the best QB in this draft. If not Cook, do NOT jump the gun for Goff and wait for Cardale Jones on a later day.

Kilgore will play center is my guess.

Anthony Davis shot down Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) when he tweeted that he may not becoming back for 2016, so there's a good chance he will be in a 49er uni next year. Staley has a chance of being traded and LT is AD's natural position. There's hope in Trenton Brown at RT.

Alex Boone's injury might allow him to be signed for cheap. Andrew Tiller's been playing 'okay' I think.

We use to have an athletic blocking 1st TE in Delanie Walker, now he's on the Titans playing like a top 5 TE. The same story could be with Vance, it doesn't hurt to see.

The biggest question in my opinion would be will the staff be able to put the right personnel on the field?

Acker, Pears, Devey, Wilhoite stood out this year as being awful, but it took forever to push them off the field despite having the personnel to replace them.

[NinerSickness]

Anthony Davis shot down Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) when he tweeted that he may not becoming back for 2016, so there's a good chance he will be in a 49er uni next year. Staley has a chance of being traded and LT is AD's natural position. There's hope in Trenton Brown at RT.

I'd honestly rather AD stayed retired. But trading Staley & making AD the LT next season could actually work. I think trading Staley would be a very wise thing to do. Fans would hate it, but they hated trading Montana too, even though it was the right move.

Alex Boone's injury might allow him to be signed for cheap.

Bleh. I hope not.

[49er4life1979]

Why would you even think about extending Lemonade? He sucks. Look no further than the last 2 weeks with his bone headed plays that cost us. He cant rush the passer either. And I would hold off on extending McDonald just yet, you know his case of the droppsies right?...And you would possibly cut Dial?? He is a decent starter at DE and a solid run stopper. Thats way more than I can say for Lemonade...As for Aldon, he will be suspended for 2016 so I highly doubt that one....The one player I would definitely try to extend is Ian Williams, one of the better NTs in the NFL.

[Pattersonca65]

I wouldn't extend Tank, Vance, or Lemonier.

I would cut Lemonier this offseason. He is a waste of space. I have my doubts about Vance ever being able to catch consistently. Tank has been an outright failure as a tackle. I would like to see how he plays in his new role. If he plays as poorly as he has before, cut him too.

I would get rid of Brooks also. The wrong side of 30 and he just doesn't look good either. Add in his character issues and it just isn't worth having him around a young team. Boldin gone too. He is just too slow now. Torrey Smith is not a true #1. Speed guy but crappy route runner. I would like Boone back at the right price. Not that I think Boone is great, but we have so many unknowns on the roster. So far, if AD comes back we have Staley, Boone, Tiller, AD, Kilgore. Brown appears like he could end up a good tackle but beyond that, I don't see anything.

[49er4life1979]

I wouldn't extend Tank, Vance, or Lemonier.

I would cut Lemonier this offseason. He is a waste of space. I have my doubts about Vance ever being able to catch consistently. Tank has been an outright failure as a tackle. I would like to see how he plays in his new role. If he plays as poorly as he has before, cut him too.

I would get rid of Brooks also. The wrong side of 30 and he just doesn't look good either. Add in his character issues and it just isn't worth having him around a young team. Boldin gone too. He is just too slow now. Torrey Smith is not a true #1. Speed guy but crappy route runner. I would like Boone back at the right price. Not that I think Boone is great, but we have so many unknowns on the roster. So far, if AD comes back we have Staley, Boone, Tiller, AD, Kilgore. Brown appears like he could end up a good tackle but beyond that, I don't see anything.

Yep, Torrey Smith only runs one route, and Ithink Baalke overpaid for him by a couple million. But, he is the vertical threat that we have been lacking for a while...Brooks is a goner, and Lemonade should be as well...I agree on Boone, at the right price he's a solid player on the OL...As for extensions, I would try to extend Dial, solid young player who's best football is ahead of him. And re-sign Ian Williams. Thats my wish list for the team's players.

[NinerSickness]

Why would you even think about extending Lemonade?

The price. He'd come dirt cheap.

I totally admit I was wrong about Lemonier. I thought, after his rookie season, that he was ready to develop into a great pass rusher. He never did. However, he's still a valuable piece for depth & special teams. And he's still almost as young as a rookie would be.

As for Aldon, he will be suspended for 2016 so I highly doubt that one.

I doubt it'll happen too, but I really hope it does. Give him a long-term deal with the guaranteed money that only goes to him if he stays out of trouble.

[NinerSickness]

Yep, Torrey Smith only runs one route, and Ithink Baalke overpaid for him by a couple million

I was 100% against the Torrey Smith signing, but we're stuck with him. However, Smith & Alshon would be a good enough WR combo' IMO.

I'd be willing to bring Jerome Simpson back for cheap too. 1-year deal.

[NinerSickness]

I wouldn't extend Tank, Vance, or Lemonier.

Think about signing FAs like buying a stock. You want to buy or not buy based on whether you think their values are going to increase or decrease, not based on how good of players they are right now. All 3 of those players will sign for cheap (especially Lemon).

And Tank in particular has played well in his limited snaps. Depth is huge in today's NFL; the Niners lost SB 47 because they didn't have depth on the DL. He's the perfect player to play in passing situations either at DE or OLB. And guys like that, who have any kind of impact, usually cost a lot of money or a high draft pick (like Bruce Irvin for example).

[Pattersonca65]

I wouldn't extend Tank, Vance, or Lemonier.

Think about signing FAs like buying a stock. You want to buy or not buy based on whether you think their values are going to increase or decrease, not based on how good of players they are right now. All 3 of those players will sign for cheap (especially Lemon).

And Tank in particular has played well in his limited snaps. Depth is huge in today's NFL; the Niners lost SB 47 because they didn't have depth on the DL. He's the perfect player to play in passing situations either at DE or OLB. And guys like that, who have any kind of impact, usually cost a lot of money or a high draft pick (like Bruce Irvin for example).

True we can use backups but Lemonier hasn't done anything. And I don't think Tank has played well. That is why they are moving him outside. He's been blown up on running plays causing big gains. I hope he is able to make it as an outside rusher cause this team could use another one. I don't see Aldon back. Think he'll stick with the Raiders. While Aldon is better than anyone on the 49ers other than Lynch, don't know that we will ever see the old dominant Aldon again.

[NinerSickness]

[And I don't think Tank has played well. That is why they are moving him outside. He's been blown up on running plays causing big gains.

Hence the move outside. He's a pass-rushing specialist, not a 5-technique run stopper.

As far as Lemonier goes, I think you have unrealistic expectations of what a backup linebacker should be. And it's not even a guarantee he'd be the primary backup; Eli Harold has a chance to move up the depth charts. But you've got to fill the roster from somewhere, and he would probably come back at close to the minimum.

He's under contract next year, so they can wait to make a decision on him; but Tank & Vance should be extended ASAP IMO.

[generaldreedle]

All those moves are great, but I don't have any confidence we have a coaching staff that could do anything with those moves, And it assumes Baalke can draft wisely around those moves.

[RedneckNiner]

I like some of that but getting 3 first round picks is highly dubious. I also think Sean Payton is a pipe dream.

If Boldin is willing to sign a reasonable contract I'd bring him back he's the veteran leadership and mentor this team is going to need.
Boone let him walk I think Tiller can lock down the guard position Kilgore at center Staley at left tackle. Brown, Martin, Thomas and Davis if he comes back compete for the last two spots.

See if anyone will offer anything up for Torrey Smith it's a rebuilding time get a draft pick for him. Let Smelter White Ellington Patton duke it out.

Tight Ends Bell, McDonald Celek and the rest can duke it out.

Cut Bethea, Let lemionier walk resign Ian Williams keep tank and dial cut Brooks. Trade or cut Kaepernick and get Goff, Lynch or Cook. Grabbers starts next year bridging to the young qb in 17.

[NinerSickness]

I like some of that but getting 3 first round picks is highly dubious.

It actually wouldn't be that hard if they were late-1st picks based on the trade value chart.

I also think Sean Payton is a pipe dream.

Probably. Team's likely not even going to fire Ron because they're completely inept.

If Boldin is willing to sign a reasonable contract I'd bring him back

That'd be a huge mistake. He's COMPLETELY useless to the Niners. He isn't even very good any more right now, much less in 3 years when the team can actually compete. Gotta start thinking 2017.

[RedneckNiner]

Signing Boldin is thinking about the future he becomes the third receiver provides veteran leadership and a mentor on a team devoid of leadership. Keep him trade Torrey Smith and develop the young kids. I like the rest of your scenario even if I think it is highly unlikely to occur.

The Niners need to rebuild and Bowman and Boldin to me are the two veteran leaders to keep around. Bethea, Staley, Brooks, Wilhite are expendable so is Boone. 2016 I wouldn't even advocate any big splashes in free agency. Build through the draft get the youngins out there and look to 2017 and 2018.

See if Tank adapts to a new role, The secondary is showing improvement address the oline and qb in the draft.

[Pattersonca65]

I like some of that but getting 3 first round picks is highly dubious.

It actually wouldn't be that hard if they were late-1st picks based on the trade value chart.

I also think Sean Payton is a pipe dream.

Probably. Team's likely not even going to fire Ron because they're completely inept.

If Boldin is willing to sign a reasonable contract I'd bring him back

That'd be a huge mistake. He's COMPLETELY useless to the Niners. He isn't even very good any more right now, much less in 3 years when the team can actually compete. Gotta start thinking 2017.

I am going to agree with you on that one. His performance has really dropped off this year. Cosell has commented on how slow he has become. This team isn't going anywhere in at least the next couple of years. Time to start looking at younger players there.

[wco81]

Even in Davis comes back, who knows if he'll be anywhere near the same player. Maybe not injured but he may not be anywhere near the same form he once had.

He may be getting trucked, which we don't need more of after Martin and Thomas already met the team's quota of weaklings.

[CrimsonCrew]

I could see us extending Vance, Tank, and Lemonier, but only if they all came at very low pricetags. Vance has been a really frustrating one. The guy has obvious talent, but he can't catch a cold. Even on the TD this week, it looked like he double-clutched it, and probably drops it if a defender was anywhere near him. He needs to do nothing but sit on the JUGS machine. Lemonier is fine as our fourth OLB. He's a solid enough STs player, and can play the run on base downs. We need at least one more legit pass rusher, though. Harold has some upside, but we can't go into next year relying on him as a starter. Tank is the most likely to leave IMO. He's a better fit in a 4-3, and he may seek the opportunity somewhere. We'll see, but I wouldn't be willing to give him an extension that he's likely to take at this point.

Cutting Dial would be incredibly stupid. The guy is a solid player, and he's dirt cheap. I can't see us cutting Reid, either. He's sound enough, not expensive, and a leader. Brooks should have been cut this past year. He's useless, and has way too high a cap number to keep around. I wouldn't pay Boone a lot of money, so I think he leaves. And Boldin's time has come to an end on this roster. Maybe a competitor brings him in as a third or fourth guy.

OL is the great mystery of this team going forward. There is some potential for the position to rebound in a big way. Staley is still very good, and I can't see us trading him. Kilgore is good when healthy. If Davis comes back, we have the makings of a strong line. Tiller has a good chance to lock down one of the starting OG spots. Thomas and Martin are the two frustrating cases. Clearly brought in to replace Iupati and Boone, but both have disappointed. If even one of them rounds into decent form next year, OL could become a strength. It would be tough not to add some competition in the early rounds, but I think we could wait until the third or fourth.

My priorities in the draft - after QB, of course - would be adding the best CB or edge rusher we can. Add an ILB somewhere in the middle rounds. The D is pretty close to being good, if not great. But at the end of the day, it's hard to evaluate this roster because of how poor the coaching has been, particularly on offense.

[CrimsonCrew]

Re: the offense, I really think the biggest problem - by far - is the coaching. Yes, the OL was awful early in the year, though they have improved lately. And yes, we've lost a ton of players at RB and TE. And we're starting Gabbert - who is probably better than almost anyone expected, but still a long way from being a good starting NFL QB - at QB. But this offense has shown some productivity in spurts. The absolute inability to sustain it appears to be the playcalling more than anything.

I missed the 4th down completion to Hayne, and I'm glad I did or I would have absolutely lost my ****. And I wanted to see them lose yesterday. Sure, Hayne was probably supposed to run at or beyond the sticks. But why are we even taking a chance?!?! It's 4th down. Unless we throw a pick-six, there's virtually no difference between an incomplete deep ball and the completion we got. Hell, a deep interception in that case would almost certainly be better for the team. I don't understand how that play could ever even happen, particularly with all the silly issues we've had this year with throwing the ball past the sticks on third and fourth down. If the coaches can't figure that out - and it's absolutely clear at this point that they cannot - then we need brand new ones across the board.

[Pattersonca65]

Don't forget Brown on the oline somewhere. I've have more hope for him than either Martin or Thomas at this point.