San Francisco 49ers: Cups will be complicated in 2019

SANTA CLARA

The 49ers should no longer be considered a rebuilding team now that coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have three add-on groups of free agents and NFL draft classes. They had enough time to execute their vision when redesigning their staff list that began in 2017.

Their win / loss record next season will be the key indicator of their ability to form a team.

The goal of the San Francisco decision-makers was to create more post-season competitions to stimulate development, which means that final numbers will be cut before the opening of the season in Tampa Bay on September 8, should be the most interesting since Shanahan and Lynch took the reins. It also means that some players and veterans in place should have to reclaim their roles while they compete with another influx of players.

Lynch, at the end of the regular season, said, "We could see the young guys pushing some veteran players, and that's another reminder, something we've always known, that competition brings the best of everyone. This is the environment we want to tackle in this off season and you continue to add good quality players and quality people. "

Let's look at the licensees and veterinarians who will have to fight to keep their roles:

Wide receiver

Kendrick Bourne, Jordan Matthews and Richie James

Additions by Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd on day two of the repechage indicate that Shanahan wanted more aggressive weapons for Jimmy Garoppolo. Samuel is the favorite to replace the starting goaltender Pierre Boy to the receiver "Z", while Hurd is a wild card among the players with the most skillful position. The plan, for now, is to have the receiver working on it before turning into a tight end later in his career, similar to the way the 49ers used Delanie Walker behind Vernon Davis earlier this decade.

But there is limited alignment, which means that Bourne has a lot to do despite leading the receivers on receptions (42) and yards (487) in 2018. He was also the only receiver 49ers to appear in 16 games while Boy, Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis dealt with injuries.

James offers added value in the return match and in the slot machine, but with Hurd and Trent Taylor also supposed to play there, he may have trouble being heard. In March, Matthews signed a one-year contract, which means he will have to play well during the off-season and training camp to convince his new coaching staff.

Offensive attack

Shon Coleman

The 49ers exchanged a late-end pick for Coleman in last year's final cups, hoping to turn him into a swing tackle behind Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey. The team has given Coleman even more confidence in the off-season with the release of veteran Garry Gilliam.

Then, he decided to introduce youth into the competition with the selection of Justin Skule of Vanderbilt (6th), who played both places in tackle while impressing among the SEC competitions. Skule (6-foot-6, 315-pound) allowed only eight sacks and 15-game quarterbacks in 1,441 assists stuck in college, according to Pro Football Focus.

Shanahan said, "He has the ability to do that, and for me, he has as good a mind on what is inside of him as anyone. When you start 40 games in the SEC, as you play at the level that he has achieved compared to this competition, you know that the guy is doing good material. "

Keep

Joshua Garnett, Erik Magnuson

Garnett, a first-round pick from Stanford in 2016, remained in place despite the fact that the previous regime had been charged and that he was dealing with injuries. Magnuson was signed as an unprepared rookie in 2017 and played sparsely a deputy role, including an unimpressed relays center in 2018, which included a catastrophic slam at the end of the fourth quarter of a defeat against Arizona.

The 49ers decided to re-sign 16-person starter Mike Person at the right guard position and add veteran Ben Garland, who played under Shanahan with the Falcons in 2016. The rookie no Ross Reynolds' promising form, from Iowa, was also recruited, which means that there should be a lot of competition.

Tight end

Garrett Celek, Ross Dwelley

Celek is 31 years old this month and enters the final year of her contract, which means that "Celek Time" could end. The 49ers drafted Kaden Smith, Stanford's tight teammate, on turn 6, too. He may not be as powerful as Celek, but he is considered more dynamic as a goaltender, despite his slow lead of 4.92 within 40 meters of the combine.

Dwelley played in 11 games last season and saw only 39 offensive shots, which suggests he is the only one missing if the team has three tight ends.

Defensive end

Ronald Blair, Jullian Taylor and Pita Taumoepenu

Nick Bosa and Dee Ford are not the only additions to the 49ers' defensive lineup. The team used a fourth-round pick in 2018 on Kentavius ​​Street, which missed last season to rehabilitate a torn LCA suffered prior to the draft. Before the injury, Street was considered a second-round hope before the injury and San Francisco is optimistic about the versatility he offers as a "big" striker and underhand.

Blair, Taylor and Taumoepenu seem to be on the wrong side of these additions. Blair has quietly experienced a strong 2018 with 5.5 bags. Taylor has shown promise at the last training camp and has played 101 attempts in six games. Taumoepenu has been a development prospect since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2017, but it's hard to imagine him landing a role without injuries above him on the depth chart. The defensive line is without a doubt the deepest and most talented group in San Francisco.

linebacker

Malcolm Smith, Elijah Lee, David Mayo and Mark Nzeocha

The construction of the internal linebackers should depend on the status of independent agent Kwon Alexander, who spends the off-season rehabilitating an October ACL tear with the Buccaneers. It is not known when he will be released for medical reasons.

The team used a fifth-round pick on Dr. Greenlaw of Arkansas, who, according to the 49ers, played much faster than his mediocre time of 4.73 in the 40 and should be a quality player on special teams.

Second-year Fred Warner is the undisputed coach of "Mike," but there could be stiff competition to be his vice president early in the season if Alexander is not ready. Once Alexander returns, Smith, Lee, Mayo or Nzeocha may be on the wrong side of the bubble.

Defensive back

K'Waun Williams, Greg Mabin, Antone Exum Jr.

The 49ers have enjoyed Williams in the slot over the last two seasons, but he could have a major competition for the first time with sophomore DJ Reed, who played well while Williams was injured at the end of 2018 .

San Francisco added Tim Harris of Virginia in the sixth inning, which many said was drafted much earlier if it was for shoulder and wrist injuries that cost him 2016 and 2017. He could push Mabin, the weakest link in 2018, to qualify.

Reed could also challenge Exum for his position as a safety reservist, a position that has become more competitive this post-season, while Jimmie Ward was to stay there full-time after being used mostly at the corner last season.