Free agency allows us to have false hopes; such as
Marvin Harrison joining the 49ers. However, it's all
very unpredictable with numerous possibilities.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
The free agent market officially opens at 12:01AM EST on Friday (or 9:01PM PST Thursday) and the 49ers will now have to make some of its biggest decisions for the upcoming season.
The free agents that the 49ers can lock up will determine how they will approach the Draft. As mentioned before, the 49ers will have to fill the needs at safety, pass rusher, fullback and wide receiver.
Firstly, the only free agent that I see the 49ers signing is FB Moran Norris. Norris was RB Frank Gore's fullback from 2006-2007, both in which were Gore's best statistical years.
Restricted free agent Zak Keasey, the 49ers' current fullback, will not be retained since he isn't much of a blocker, rather than a receiver out of the backfield.
The other two fullbacks the 49ers would have tried to target were Tony Richardson and Leonard Weaver. Richardson, a pupil of offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, has decided to stay with the Jets. Weaver is probably the most coveted fullback in the market. However, like Keasey, his best talents are used as a receiver, not a blocker.
There have been talks about possibly moving tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker to the backfield to block. However, the 49ers have stated that that idea would only work if the team saw it necessary. If they can lock up Norris, there would be no need to convert a tight end to a fullback. They tried to do that with Sean Ryan this past season and it didn't do much.
Before I dive into the free agent market, I want to just throw out the names of some important 49ers free agents that the team has to make a decision on this off-season. A complete breakdown of the 49ers free agents can be found here.
- LB Takeo Spikes- tied for second on team in tackles. Great mentor for the young linebackers. 49ers are reported to be in good talks with Spike on a new contract.
- KR Allen Rossum- Rossum changed a lot for the 49ers. He is second all-time in return yards in the NFL and this year, he still proved he could do it. There have been no contract talks just yet, but he looks to be a 50-50 on returning.
- WR Bryant Johnson- the Johnson experiment didn't work out. Not only did he lose a lot of playing time during the off-season due to injuries, but also he didn't become that big threat wide out the 49ers had hoped he would become. He more than likely will not return.
- RB DeShaun Foster- the 49ers are looking for another running back to spell Frank Gore in the two-back system. If the 49ers can't find one, they can resign Foster. But that doesn't look likely now since the team said they are looking at the Draft for the backup.
- DE Roderick Green- after his incident in Texas, I don't think the 49ers want him back.
- DT Ronald Fields- he also is a 50-50 with the team. The 49ers are in no rush in trying to bring him back.
- CB Donald Strickland- he could return to the team if the 49ers don't find a proper replacement. Strickland has been a fine back for the team, but there might be a youth movement on the team that could spell his departure.
- QB Jamie Martin/J.T. O'Sullivan- Neither of them will be back.
At safety, the 49ers could look at the Browns' Sean Jones. In the past three seasons, he has totaled 14 interceptions. The team can also look at Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell. He isn't an interception machine, but last season he had 120 tackles.
The 49ers will look to get CB Jimmy Williams and S Dashon Goldson more involved on defense, so that might factor into what the 49ers might look for at safety in the free agent market. That is the same case at pass rusher. The team could really use a pass rusher since Manny Lawson is still on the bubble for the team. He could still develop into that pass rusher the team had wanted. However, that role looks to be taken by Parys Haralson. For a guy who didn't even play a lot of downs, he did just end up sacking everybody he saw. But a potential free agent to come in for the team? How about DE Igor Olshansky? The 49ers might have a small chance at getting the Ukrainian, but it's an idea.
For wide receiver, the 49ers could either hope that Texas Tech wide out Michael Crabtree falls to #10. If not, the team could go for TJ Houshmandzadeh. But why would he want to come to San Francisco? Devery Henderson or Javon Walker? It's not a very good class of free agent wide receivers this year and Houshmandzadeh is the only one that would be the best fit for the team. Looks like the 49ers might have to resign Bryant Johnson or go all out in the draft. Or maybe try to get that Marvin Harrison guy? (Not likely since Philadelphia looks to be the best fit for him).
There aren't a lot of free agents have "wowed" the team, but there are a ton of possibilities for the 49ers. Heck, they could go for some of these Buccaneers that are available. Free agency officially starts in less than 24 hours. Stay tuned here and at Mining the Gold Rush for my updates as the 49ers enter the free agent market.
Comments