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San Francisco 49ers: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

By The Sports Xchange
San Francisco's quarterback Colin Kaepernick raises his fist after scoring the game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 49ers-Arizona Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, November 13, 2016. Photo by Art Foxall/UPI
San Francisco's quarterback Colin Kaepernick raises his fist after scoring the game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 49ers-Arizona Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, November 13, 2016. Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo

San Francisco 49ers breakdown: Free agency, draft shopping list

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As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the San Francisco 49ers must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 2-14 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the 49ers' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.

For the fourth consecutive season, the 49ers will have a new head coach, but the six-year deal given Kyle Shanahan (along with a six-year contract for new general manager John Lynch) indicates the newcomers will be around for a while to lead a roster that needs serious help.

Front and center is what Shanahan will do at quarterback, where Colin Kaepernick likely will opt out of his contract unless Shanahan believes there is a chance he can play at a high level. Whoever the quarterback turns out to be, pass-catching help is necessary, and the defense needs reinforcements.

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THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 4th in NFC West (2-14)

STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 308.1 (31st)

RUSHING: 126.2 (4th)

PASSING: 181.9 (32nd)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 406.4 (32nd)

RUSHING: 165.9 (32nd)

PASSING: 240.5 (14th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

*=Vet who may be released or option not exercised

TOP THREE NEEDS

QUARTERBACK

What will happen faster: The 49ers terminating Colin Kaepernick, or he washing his hands of them? New coach, new offensive philosophy; a new quarterback is much needed.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

Kirk Cousins, Washington (29 in August, $19.95M)

*Tony Romo, Dallas (37 in April, $18M)

Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay (28 in December, $776K)

Brian Hoyer, Chicago (32 in October, $2M)

*Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo (28 in August, $18M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/12 Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, 6-3, 220, 4.74, 1 (underclassman)

2/20 DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame, 6-4, 230, 4.76, 1 (underclassman)

3/29 Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 6-2, 215, 4.64, 1-2 (underclassman)

4/70 Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech, 6-2, 229, 4.84, 2-3 (underclassman)

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5/99 Brad Kaaya, Miami (FL), 6-4, 210, 4.84, 3 (underclassman)

WIDE RECEIVER

The new general manager must answer this question: Is there another Odell Beckham Jr. in this draft? And if so: Can the 49ers trade down and still get him?

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

DeSean Jackson, Washington (31 in December, $6M)

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)

Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)

Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 1 (underclassman)

2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 1

3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 1 (underclassman)

4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 1-2 (underclassman)

5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 2

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Replacing Patrick Willis has proven to be even tougher than replacing wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

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Dont'a Hightower, New England (27 in March, $1.93M)

Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh (31 in May, $9.6M)

Malcolm Smith, Oakland (28 in July, $3.5M)

Akeem Dent, Houston (30 in September, $2.25M)

&D'Qwell Jackson, Indianapolis (34 in September, $5.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/7 Reuben Foster, Alabama, 6-1, 236, 4.72, 1

2/41 Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, 6-2, 240, 4.78, 2 (underclassman)

3/44 Jarrad Davis, Florida, 6-1, 238, 4.78, 2

4/108 Anthony Walker Jr., Northwestern, 6-1, 235, 4.63, 3-4 (underclassman)

5/112 Kendell Beckwith, LSU, 6-2, 252, 4.82, 3-4

UFA KEEPERS

None

ROSTER REPORT

MAJOR COACHING CHANGES

--Kyle Shanahan replaces Chip Kelly as head coach.

--DC Robert Saleh replaces Jim O'Neil.

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Colin Kaepernick. Backups -- Blaine Gabbert (UFA), Christian Ponder (UFA), *Thad Lewis.

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RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- *Carlos Hyde. Backups -- Shaun Draughn (UFA), DuJuan Harris (UFA), Mike Davis, Raheem Mostert.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- *Vance McDonald. Backups -- Garrett Celek, *Blake Bell, Jim Dray (UFA), Je'Ron Hamm.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- *Torrey Smith, Jeremy Kerley (UFA), *Bruce Ellington. Backups -- *Eric Rogers, *Quinton Patton (UFA), Rod Streater (UFA), Chris Harper, Aaron Burbridge, DeAndre Smelter.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Joe Staley, LG Zane Beadles, *C Daniel Kilgore, RG Joshua Garnett, RT Trent Brown. Backups -- T John Theus, G Andrew Tiller, G Andrew Gardner (UFA), *G/C Marcus Martin, G/C Alex Balducci.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LE DeForest Buckner, NT Quinton Dial, *RE Arik Armstead. Backups -- DE Ronald Blair, DE Tony Jerod-Eddie (UFA), NT Glenn Dorsey (UFA), NT Chris Jones, NT Mike Purcell, NT Zach Moore.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- OLB Ahmad Brooks, *ILB NaVorro Bowman, *ILB Ray-Ray Armstrong, OLB Aaron Lynch. Backups -- OLB Eli Harold, OLB Tank Carradine, ILB Gerald Hodges (UFA), *ILB Nick Bellore (UFA), ILB Michael Wilhoite (UFA), *ILB Shayne Skov, ILB Carl Bradford, ILB Wynton McManis.

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DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Tramaine Brock, *RCB Jimmie Ward, SS Antoine Bethea, *FS Eric Reid. Backups -- *CB Chris Davis, CB Rashard Robinson, CB Keith Reaser, CB Dontae Johnson, *CB Will Redmond, CB Prince Charles Iworah, SS Jaquiski Tartt, SS Vinnie Sunseri, FS Marcus Cromartie, FS Marcus Ball.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Phil Dawson (UFA), P Bradley Pinion, *PR Bruce Ellington, KR JaCorey Shepherd, LS Kyle Nelson.

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