Breaking Down the 49ers Roster Needs - Offense

By Scooter_McG

The 49ers head into the start of new league year with a pretty strong roster already on the books, but with only 39 players under contract (including reserve/ futures contracts) and not much wiggle room cap wise. There are also some key contributors from 2021 that will be testing the FA waters this year unless the 49ers can reach agreements prior to the start of the new league year. 

Before we get into discussing the potential free agents and draft picks the 49ers may be interested in, it is worth taking a look over the 49ers roster as it stands today, including players under contract and pending free agents, to identify potential needs. Here is a breakdown of the 49ers roster and free agents on offense, and where I see the 49ers key positional needs on the offensive side of the ball heading into 2022. I will take a look at defense in a separate post.

Note that I have excluded players on reserve/ future contracts from this list, given those guys are typically more just training camp bodies.

QB: Under contract: Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance. UFA: Nate Sudfeld.

The 49ers presumably have the starting QB spot locked up with Trey Lance ready to take over in year 2. Jimmy Garoppolo also remains on the roster for now, but all signs point to the 49ers actively looking to trade him and recoup some of the draft capital they gave up for Lance. 3rd string WB Nate Sudfeld will be a FA. 

Needs: Assuming the 49ers do as expected and trade Jimmy G, the team will have just one QB (Lance) under contract. It would be wise to pair Lance with a veteran QB that has starting experience to be his backup and potentially push him for the starting role if Lance falters in camp. A 3rd string QB will also be needed, though Sudfeld will likely be a preferred option for that role again in 2022.

OL: Under contract: Trent Williams, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Mack, Aaron Banks, Jaylon Moore, Justin Skule. UFA: Laken Tomlinson, Tom Compton. RFA: Dan Brunskill, Jake Brendel. ERFA: Colton McKivitz. 

Bookends Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey are under contract, as is anchor Alex Mack. Williams is the best LT in football, while Mack was still very good last season and at his best McGlinchey can be an above average RT (an excellent in the run game). Those three also play the three positions along the OL that Shanahan has traditionally most valued. However, there are question marks for McGlinchey (returning from serious injury) and Mack (potential retirement). 

Both starting OGs are off contract, though Brunskill is a RFA and the 49ers should have little trouble keeping him. Tomlinson, however, appears set to test the FA market. Tom Compton, who was serviceable as a replacement to McGlinchey in 2021, is also off contract. 

Expectations will no doubt be high that 2021 draft picks Aaron Banks and Jaylon Moore can step into key roles in 2022, in particular Banks who was drafted in the 2nd round and may be in line to take over at LG from Tomlinson. Justin Skule returns from injury to provide some depth, while ERFA Colton McKivitz can also be brought back easily. 

Needs: If McGlinchey and Mack are back and playing decent football in 2022, and Banks can step in at LG and Moore at swing tackle, the 49ers "need" at OL is just depth and competition. But that is a lot of ifs. Even if the Glinch and Mack return it would seem wise for the 49ers to invest in each position to provide cover and have guys ready to step in in 2023.

RB: Under contract: Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, Kyle Juzszcyk. UFA: Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Trenton Cannon. ERFA: JaMycal Hasty. 

Elijah Mitchell established himself as the bell-cow RB for the 49ers last year, and will no doubt be expected to carry the load in 2022. While Mitchell impressed, fellow rookie and 3rd round pick Sermon was used sparingly and appeared to spend much of the year in Shanahan and Turner's doghouse. Given where he was selected the 49ers will be hoping for much better returns from Sermon in 2022. "Juice" also returns at FB and remains the best FB in the NFL. 

After Mitchell and Sermon the cupboard is currently bare at RB - however, Shanahan has already indicated that do-everything All Pro WR/ "Wide-Back" Deebo Samuel will continue to be used at both WR and RB in 2022, providing a nice complementary piece to the RB room. 

In terms of players scheduled for FA, Mostert can be electric when healthy and nigh unstoppable at his best. But staying healthy has always been a struggle with Mostert. I am sure the 49ers would love to have him back, but also will be unlikely to get into a bidding war for him. Wilson and Cannon look like players that may struggle to see much of a market materialise for them and the 49ers could likely keep each of them on the veteran minimum. Even if they do get signed elsewhere, they are journeymen type RBs that should be fairly easy to replace. JaMycal Hasty is an ERFA and is likely to return. 

Needs: The 49ers will need to sign some depth behind Mitchell and Sermon, but don't need to spend big. However, finding a RB that can provide a similar skill set to Mostert would make the 49ers ground attack all the more dangerous in 2022. 

WR: Under contract: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk. UFAs: Mohamed Sanu, Trent Sherfield, Travis Benjamin, Richie James. ERFA: Jauan Jennings.  

The two starting WR spots are locked in for the 49ers with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Samuel will likely also be getting a nice extension this offseason. Jauan Jennings finished the 2021 season as the 49ers #3 WR and as an ERFA will no doubt be brought back to compete for that role again in 2022. 

After that, the 49ers have some spots to fill. None of Sherfield, Benjamin or James really impressed in 2021, though Sherfield may be looked at to provide some STs depth. Sanu was decent early in the year before getting injured, but made way to Jennings later in the year. Deebo and Aiyuk have mentioned that Sanu's experience and leadership has been a great help in training and so the 49ers may want him to return at least for another training camp. 

Needs: As outlined above, the 49ers need depth after their top 3 WRs. And they may want to bring in a WR that can compete with Jennings for the #3 role. Areas the 49ers should prioritise is a WR with punt return capability, as well as a WR that can reliably stretch the field. 

The 49ers may also be on the look out for a player that can take on the role they envisaged for Jalen Hurd when they drafted him. In may respects that role was taken over by Deebo in 2021, but don't be surprised if the 49ers are once again in the market for a WR/RB/TE hybrid in the 2022 draft.

TE: Under contract: George Kittle, Charlie Woerner. UFA: Ross Dwelley. 

Kittle remains one of the top TEs in the NFL, and arguably the most well rounded TE in football. Health has been an issue the past two years though. Woerner improved considerably in 2021, in particular as a blocker, and provides nice depth at the position. Dwelley is a FA and saw his role diminish in 2021 - don't expect him to return in 2022. 

Needs: With only 2 TEs on the books, some depth will be needed. But don't be surprised if the 49ers do more than just look for bottom of the roster depth. TE has been a position the 49ers have flirted with on numerous off-seasons, looking to add a complementary TE to Kittle. There were rumours they tried hard to sign Austin Hooper, and did bring in Jordan Reed in 2020. There has already been some rumours that Shanahan is interested in exploring the market for a similar type of TE/ big slot receiver in 2022.