F/A dust has begun to settle over the NFC West. Let's take a look at the moves our adversaries have made, and compare them to the moves the 49ers have made.
Seattle - Losses: Griffin(cb), Hyde(rb), Dorsett(wr), Moore(wr), Hollister(te), Dunlap(edge), Irvin(edge), Wright(lb)
Gain/Retain: Witherspoon(cb), Ford(dt), Bellore(fb), Carson(rb), Jackson(og), Pocic(oc), Everett(te), Prater(k)
Losing, Moore and, Dorsett means the Seahawks need to add a 3rd wr just like we do. The Seahawks were listed as having around $500,000 in cap space as of yesterday. They're gonna have to go to, Wilson and get him to restructure to make room. They've definitely gotten weaker in the secondary by replacing, Griffin with, Witherspoon. With only 3 draft picks, a 2nd, a 4th and a 7th, I expect they'll do as much trading down to accumulate more picks as possible. This team is weaker on paper than it was a year ago.
Arizona - Losses: Peterson(cb), Reddick(lb), Drake(rb), Sherfield(wr), Blackson(dl), Fitzgerald(wr)?
Gain/Retain: Watt(edge), Green(wr), Hudson(oc), Golden(de), Beachem(ot)
Losing, Peterson weakens their secondary but they compensated by adding to their pass rush. Green is a shell of his former self, and they're counting on him to take attention away from, Hopkins. Watt is another relic with a long injury history they're counting on. The Cardinals upgraded the IOL but they're taking big risks by counting on, Watt and Green. With around $600,000 in cap, this team seems to be jogging in place on paper.
Los Angeles - Losses: Goff(qb), Ebukam(lb), Everett(te), Johnson(s), Rivers(edge), Fox(de), Hill(cb), McQuaide(ls), Brockers(dl), Blythe(oc), Reynolds(wr), Bortles(qb)
Gain/Retain: Stafford(qb), Floyd(edge), Williams(cb), Shelton(oc), Howard(lb), Mundt(te)
The Rams were able to get out from under an $18 million over the cap through restructures and trading, Brockers. They sit at roughly $7 million in the green. The first obvious move was to acknowledge their mistakes at qb. They replaced their big investment in, Goff with an aging gunslinger in, Stafford. This move alone makes the Rams more dangerous. The team has improved offensively, but have weakened defensively on paper.
San Francisco - Losses: Tartt(s), Hyder(de), Willis(edge), Jordan(edge), Sherman(cb), Reed(te), Beathard(qb), Mullens(qb), Bourne(wr), Williams(nb), Taylor(wr), Coleman(rb), McKinnon(rb), Garland(c), Compton(og)
Gain/Retain: Williams(lt), Verrett(cb), Eubukam(de), Mack(c), Moseley(cb), Brunskill(ol), Sherfield(wr), Johnson(cb), Juice(fb), Jones(nt), Wilson(rb)
To me the 49ers have methodically consolidated their power, while the others are treading water to stay afloat. With an expected 9 selections in the upcoming draft and roughly $16 million in cap(per Lombardi), I would expect the balance of power to shift even more towards the 49ers, and they should be one of the deepest and most talented rosters in their division. To the power and the glory. Raise your 49ers glasses high!
Nice Saxon reference there Scooter..... I believe they're coming out w a new album this year.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone else has stated, glad to have this venue and thanks for the time invested by all of the contributors.
I am curious what the status is w Hyder, but primarily K'waun. I think he has been stellar over the (5?) years here and he deserves to get another couple, if they are close to terms. And per Hyder, can never have too many DL in the rotation, but I don't believe they'll be able to afford him........ and who knows what will happen w Ford.
Too bad about the miss on Trubisky at $2.5, but Flacco at $1.5 and then let things shake out in camp if Jones is there at 12 works for me......
You're welcome, Dlptown. Nice to see you.
DeleteThis is a strange division.
ReplyDeleteEach team has improved in different ways and regressed in others.
Seattle bolstered a terrible OL to help protect Wilson. That is a better investment than a 3rd WR imo.
AZ adding guys like Watt will help regardless of how well he plays due to his leadership (and AZ's lack of a coaching staff) but I expect he will also play at a very high level when healthy. Not All PRO, to be sure but he will be a solid B to B+ player when healthy and there's the rub.
As to LA, well they improved dramatically just by getting someone other than Goff behind center. He was the main reason SF handled them last year, he flat missed a lot of open throws. As to their defense, as long as they have Donald, Floyd and Ramsey they will be formidable. IMO Brockers was overrated IMO.
That gets us to SF.
Just by adding Mack they have improved the oline tremendously IMO. The problem is everywhere else... The secondary, DLine, wr's, rb's are all weaker on paper.
*Note* I think they did a great job in free agency and set themselves up to improve greatly in the draft... but they have not yet improved overall from last year, yet. The draft is where that will happen.
As long as they ace their draft and stay healthy the division is theirs for the taking. Stafford is a big upgrade but it's a new offense and new personnel. It's gonna take time to learn and gel.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAgreed Shoup. They have improved on offense just by adding Mack and retaining Williams. But on defense... they've done well to keep/ sign who they have, but they are (right now) weaker than last season. However I still think they add an edge, slot CB and safety in FA before the draft. And they are then set up to really add talent as it falls to them come draft day.
DeleteHaving players back who missed significant time last season - your JGs, your Bosas, your Kittles, your Mosterts, your Samuels, your Wilsons, etc - gives this team heads up improvement over anything their NFCW rivals might have accomplished over the offseason. Of course the trick is make sure those players stay on the field this upcoming season.
ReplyDeleteGood point. They couldn't possibly be that unlucky 2 years in a row, right?
DeleteThat's true. Health was obviously the big factor last season. Fingers crossed for a healthier 2021.
DeleteIf the Niners are healthy they can play ball with anyone.
ReplyDeleteYep, they're primed for another run at it.
DeleteNiners have $16 in cap space, per Lombardi.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mood.
DeleteI think Lombardi tweeted it is closer to $13.8M. But it is still a guesstimate.
DeleteYeah, there is some uncertainty in the cap available.
DeleteLombardi in The Athletic: "We estimate that the 49ers have roughly $16 million of cap room left, but they must earmark more than half of that for in-season expenses and to pay their 2021 draft class."
Enough to re-sign Hyder and K'Waun?
I still think they will free up more cap space at some point in order to add a few more FAs.
DeleteWith the moves they have made so far they are very much still thinking "win now". Would therefore make little sense to not try and fill a couple of the remaining holes with starting calibre FAs. Hyder, Williams and Tartt would all make sense. Brian Poole at slot CB would also be good, if not Williams. All very achievable.
Agree they could still restructure a contract or two and accommodate the re-signings you suggested.
Delete"With the moves they have made so far they are very much still thinking "win now"".
IIRC, during the 2018-2019 off-season Lynch declared that they had planned to contend every season following their first season of rebuild, and how disappointed they were that Jimmy G's ACL injury derailed the 2018 season. I see now that he meant what he said. Since then I have taken what the Niners front office and coaches have said in interviews at face value and have more correct in my guesses about their likely moves than most folks with "hot take".
Nice work razor. I think the 49ers still have a bit of work to do on defense before I'm comfortable saying they are consolidating their power. But what they have done so far in FA is promising.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, have you seen Ojulari's official pro day #s? Not great for a guy his size.
Yea, somewhat disappointing. I do think he'd excel under, Bosa/Ford's tutelage but they probably will want someone bigger than, Ojulari now that they've got, Ebukam.
DeleteOff topic a bit, but I have been looking at WRs in the draft and I have to say, if the 49ers needed a starting WR this year I am convinced Shanahan would pound the table for Amon-Ra St Brown. Everything about the way he plays screams Shanahan offense. He is basically what Shanahan hoped Pettis was.
ReplyDeleteAnd despite having Samuel and Aiyuk... I'm not 100% convinced Shanahan won't be after him anyway with that 2nd round pick. Still need a reliable 3rd WR.
DeleteI got him as a 3rd round prospect. Like his body control, and route running. Noticed that unnecessary hitch in his back foot coming off the line last year isn't as prominent this year.
Delete