Good Morning Faithful,
Here are the top 49ers headlines for Thursday, March 11.
New and Notable
49ers Receive Two Compensatory Picks, Own 10 Selections in 2021 NFL Draft
With the 2020 regular season at a close, much of the San Francisco 49ers attention is on how the team can turn around from their uninspiring year going forward. On Wednesday, the 49ers were awarded a pair of compensatory draft picks, giving San Francisco a grand total of 10 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft.
According to NFL.com, teams are awarded compensatory draft picks between Rounds 3 and 7 based upon a league formula that takes into account the following criteria for players who left the team to sign elsewhere as free agents: average salary per year (APY), snap count and postseason awards. To qualify for compensatory picks, teams must end up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained in a particular year. Read More >>>
2021 NFL Free Agency: Key Roster Needs for Every NFC Team
NFL.com digital content producer Michael Baca went through every team in the NFC to look at the major holes each club will look to fill once free agency begins on March 17. Here's what he had to say about the 49ers.
"No team was plagued more by injuries than the 2020 49ers, and no team may be more amped up to get back in contention. Last year's treacherous season was ill-timed for a deep roster coming off a Super Bowl appearance. Curing the hangover will require some spending. Perhaps the most important unrestricted free agent on the roster (which is set to have 27 total UFAs) is left tackle Trent Williams, whose potential exit would create a complicated situation for an otherwise-thin O-line. The 49ers have the cap space to retain the former All-Pro, and Williams has expressed his desire to remain in San Francisco, but not at a discount. Getting ink to paper would be reassuring; otherwise, the Niners may end up panic-buying a replacement that, in all likelihood, ends up being a downgrade.
"The cornerback unit is sure to see the most changes this offseason, through free agency and the draft. The team will be parting ways with veteran Richard Sherman; other notable CBs headed for free agency include Jason Verrett, Ahkello Witherspoon, K'Waun Williams and Dontae Johnson. A featured CB is needed, and so is a breath of fresh air for a secondary that has underperformed as of late.
"By all accounts, the 49ers are sticking with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo after a setback season doomed by injuries. A backup plan could be in the works through free agency, given the expiring contracts of C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens. If no QB is signed, that will give us a pretty good idea of who the 49ers will target with the No. 12 overall draft pick."
