What the 49ers Will Get in the Draft and Free Agency

When it comes to the 49ers offseason, there are the positions they should target and the positions they will target.

These are the positions they most likely will target.

1. Defensive End

The 49ers really should prioritize their offensive line, but they never do. Which is strange, because they finally have a really good quarterback they should want to protect. Instead, the 49ers almost always prioritize their defensive line. And they already have three high-priced defensive linemen -- Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead. But they don't have a starting defensive end opposite Bosa. They wanted that player to be Chase Young, but he flopped, just like he flopped for years in Washington. The 49ers won't go into the season with a platoon of Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson. They'll probably draft a defensive end in Round 1 or Round 2 or sign one in free agency.

2. Linebacker

Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles' tendon in the Super Bowl and could miss the entire upcoming season -- the 49ers have to replace him. And they don't have a suitable replacement on the roster. Oren Burks tried to fill in for Greenlaw at weakside linebacker in the Super Bowl and got torched repeatedly in coverage. Don't be surprised if the 49ers spend a high draft pick on a linebacker -- remember, they spent a first-round pick in 2017 on Reuben Foster, who played the same position as Greenlaw. Shanahan values the linebacker position extremely highly because not many are good against the run and the pass.

3. Running back

The 49ers haven't taken one in the third round in a couple years, and they just can't help themselves. That's why they drafted Trey Sermon and Ty Davis-Price. Don't be discouraged, though. The third time will be the charm.