As far as bold predictions went for the San Francisco 49ers, the team was full of buzz going into the 2018 season. From a five-game winning streak in the previous season and much buzz around the team and their new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, many thought the team had what it took to make a playoff run.
Much to the dismay of fans, these dreams and expectations fell apart within weeks. With season-ending injuries to the starting running back and quarterback to legal troubles to their troubled linebacker Reuben Foster, the writing was on the walls of a team headed to the basement of the league.
Despite all of their turmoil, the team has much to build off of. From the rise of tight end George Kittle and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, they have plenty of building blocks going into the 2019 offseason. Plus with the sixth-best cap space and the number two overall draft pick, they can go back to being the team everyone was talking about making the push from worst to first like last season.
With all of these pieces working for them, it's important they take advantage of this in the offseason. And with that being said, here are five bold predictions for the San Francisco 49ers for the 2019 offseason.
49ers will sign Safety HaHa Clinton-Dix
If there's a position that needs an upgrade for San Francisco, it's safety. They had six different players play that position at least 300 snaps last season. Of those six players, the highest-graded one was Jaquiski Tartt with a 66.6 overall grade.
And with the way the defensive backfield struggled it shows with their woeful statistics. They gave up 35 passing touchdowns to forcing a record-worst two interceptions. And they allowed the second-worst passer rating against them with a 105.4.
The safety market in free agency is something that the 49ers need to take advantage of, especially with the All-Pro talent being made available.
Although Earl Thomas seems to be a likely possibility with a reuniting of Richard Sherman and Robert Saleh from the Legion of Boom days in Seattle. However, Thomas is moving his family back to Texas and will likely be taken up by Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.
Landon Collins is also someone that the 49ers should look into. But with the likelihood of him wanting to be with a contender, he'll probably go to somewhere like Indianapolis.
The next best option for this would be HaHa Clinton-Dix. One of the best defensive playmakers in the league and someone that's created turnover opportunities for the Packers for many years before his shocking trade to Washington.
Clinton-Dix has come away with at least three interceptions in each of the last three seasons. He's come away with a strong 5.5 sacks since being drafted in the league in 2014. He's coming off of a season in which he had a 79.3 overall grade on PFF. And he's been healthy every season since 2015.
He would be an immediate upgrade to the safety position, and the 49ers have the cap space to get him and bring him on board.
The 49ers will not end up with either WR Antonio Brown or Odell Beckham Jr.
As much as the buzz going around San Francisco is that they're going after a number one receiver. With the Pittsburgh wide receiver being fed up with the Steelers organization, he's chosen to move onto another team.
And with this news coming up it isn't that farfetched of players across the league to go out of their way to recruit him.
— AB (@AB84) January 1, 2019
Brown even made the 49ers one of his top targets for a trade. But at the end of the day, he ended up with the Raiders.
And as for the OBJ rumors, it's just even more unlikely. He signed a mega deal in the 2018 offseason and the team isn't going to let go of him unless it's a big return coming for them.
Dave Gettleman on Odell Beckham: "We didn't sign him to trade him."
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 2, 2019
As incredible as it would be to see either of these All-Pro talents in the Kyle Shanahan offense, it's just not going to happen with what the 49ers have to offer.
QB Nick Mullens will not be traded until Training Camp
The San Francisco 49ers have found themselves in a great spot with their quarterback depth. With Jimmy Garoppolo coming back from injury and Nick Mullens waiting as the new number two guy, the 49ers can stay content knowing that they have someone with trade value and another option if Garoppolo goes down with injury again.
It's a lot like the Philadelphia Eagles last season. A young signal caller that has plenty of upside when healthy, and a productive backup that can fill in when needed.
However, the 49ers can hold onto the former practice squad QB until they get an offer they can't refuse. Teams in training camp are more willing than anything to go after a quarterback with his production.
Mullens played in the final eight weeks and came away with a 3-5 record. Along with this, he completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 284.6 passing yards per game and 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. This all was good for a 90.8 passer rating and 8.3 yards per attempt.
These are strong statistics for a guy that was reserved as the third-stringer at the start of the season.
There are plenty of backup quarterbacks that will be given looks as trade targets before the season begins. Guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett, and Case Keenum will all get attention. But Mullens will likely be at the top of that list with how well he performed in 2018.
The NFL Draft will be dedicated (mostly) to the Defense
As much as the team wants to get the number one receiver to complete the Shanahan offense, the defense needs the most attention.
I mean look at these numbers:
- Tenth-worst in first downs allowed per game (21.1).
- Second-worst in both passer rating allowed (105.4) and passing touchdowns allowed (35).
- Tied for 22nd in getting to the quarterback with just 37 and an all-time worst two interceptions.
- And fifth-worst in scoring defense (27.2).
To add onto these stats, PFF ranked San Francisco's front seven 21st and their secondary last in their end of regular season rankings. And it only gets worse when looking at how the year two players did.
- Solomon Thomas continues to underwhelm as a number three overall pick.
- Reuben Foster got released after his third arrest and second domestic assault case.
- Ahkello Witherspoon didn't live up to his rookie season production and was a liability.
- Adrian Colbert was ranked as the 93rd safety in the league by PFF with an overall ranking of 31.7.
The 49ers will be looking to get a new edge rusher, another inside linebacker to pair with Fred Warner, and a number two guy opposite of Richard Sherman. Not to mention a lot more depth on the defense.
The 49ers will use their only pick for offense in the 2019 Draft on WR DK Metcalf
Yes, he had to miss most of his last year with Ole Miss because of a neck injury. And yes, a lot of his production is from exploiting mismatches from teams focusing on his fellow wideout, AJ Brown.
But it can't be denied that his size and big-play ability are something that separates him from other receivers in the upcoming draft. He's a likely player to fall because of injury concerns. But this shouldn't keep the 49ers from not picking him up in the early second round.
Also, his production before his injury can't go unnoticed either. Metcalf totaled 26 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns in just seven games. That's a ridiculous 21.9 yards per reception he puts up in 2018.
Adding him to a receiving core that features Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis, and George Kittle would be dangerous for any secondary. Couple this in with a healthy Jerick McKinnon, Kyle Juszczyk, and Trent Taylor, and Jimmy Garoppolo will be looking at a big redemption season.
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