WR a combo of Drafting and Free Agency

To summarize my prior posts regarding the WR position a combo of acquiring talent through free agency and the draft is paramount. Nothing against the team's current wide-outs, but I say keep only those under contract and let the rest go. If the 49ers pick up a tall WR in free agency, i.e. Marques Colston or Vincent Jackson it would be nice to see the 49ers draft a player like Mohamed Sanu or Marvin McNutt. Conversely if the 49ers pick up Dwayne Bowe or Stevie Johnson in free agency then they should draft taller receivers like Quick, Streeter, or Randle. In the NFL it's all about mis-matches against an opponent. Being able to have a variety of threats poses different mis-matches.

As much as I really like Josh Morgan, his injury seemed pretty serious and you just don't know how much his speed and season long endurance will be able to hold up. Ginn is great in the special-teams return game, but he just doesn't have enough offensive ability to warrant keeping him around. I'd like to see Trent Baalke go after two to three wide receivers in free agency and the draft. My ideal scenario would be to see the 49ers go out and get Stevie Johnson in free agency, and then draft Mohamed Sanu in the 2nd round and Brian Quick in the 4th round. Given that Harbaugh and Roman prefer multiple tight-end formations I think the 49ers max out at two wide-receiver acquisitions in the off-season even though they should pick up three quality receivers.

Depending how the draft unfolds and if the 49ers deem a veteran WR in free agency important it will drastically affect what the 49ers do with the #30 overall selection. Let's say the 49ers do not acquire a WR in free-agency do they reach and take Sanu or Randle? The other option is the 49ers find a suitor for this pick because Sanu, Randle, or both are already off the board and they move back into the top of the 2nd and select either the highest rated cornerback or draft Rueben Randle. My gut still says Randle is a reach and the 49ers will select whoever is rated the highest when they pick. I think the 49ers should take the best man available regardless of position or trade this pick if it's possible.

If the 49ers do sign a veteran WR in free agency who they feel can take the #1 or #2 spot alongside Crabtree, then WR at this point in the draft no longer is an urgent need according to the Walsh philosophy and WR are the last piece of the puzzle. Remember, Harbaugh is a Stanford man, and even was under the tutelage of the legendary Walsh for a short-time and more than likely already picked up on this piece of advice. This is the point where it's time to wheel and deal the pick and add as many draft selections as possible. This means the 49ers will take a WR in the 3rd through 5th rounds of the draft. My money is on Quick in the 4th. This leaves the 49ers with more selections to draft much needed help in the CB, S, OLB, DL, RB, and OL positions.

Given that the 49ers are going to be playing 5 teams in 2012 (Packers, Saints, Patriots, Lions, & Giants) that are the top 6 teams in passing from 2011, they will need lots of help in the secondary. They'll also need more depth along the line for a good rotation to keep the big guys up front fresh.  Given the fact that the 49ers allowed too many sacks in 2011 the Center and Guard positions will be looked at and in the late rounds, and a RB to replace Gore or Dixon will be taken. There is always the option for another late round WR that can handle the KR/PR duties if Ginn departs, but the last few selections have not panned out that late in the draft...unless Baalke stops drafting short panicky guys. Maybe Ginn stays, but only as a returner and a last resort WR.