January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly poses for a photo after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Exactly two weeks before the 2016 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin in Chicago, the San Francisco 49ers felt a disruption from their new neighbors to the south and a familiar rival.
The Los Angeles Rams acquired the No. 1 overall pick and with it likely blocked any bid by Chip Kelly and the 49ers to make planned to moves to address the quarterback position.
It couldn’t be more complicated for the 49ers.
Identifying a starting quarterback isn’t a typical two-word answer. Colin. Kaepernick?
Not exactly a foregone conclusion. The 49ers hoped to draft a quarterback but with the seventh overall pick. That was the first step that could lead to them immediately passing along Kaepernick to the Denver Broncos. For now, the 49ers have seen that idea dashed by the Rams. That’s because with the No. 2 overall pick, the Cleveland Browns are in need of a quarterback. Or the Browns could opt to auction the pick looking for a selloff similar to what the Titans netted for the No. 1 pick.
The 49ers have the picks to move – 12 total, the highest number in the league.
But Kelly’s desire for a quarterback, even if it pans out miraculously for the 49ers, doesn’t solve some of the biggest problems on the roster.
After all, they were not a good team in 2015, had numerous holes to fill, and had the financial means — almost $70 million in salary-cap space — to make a splash.
Instead, Jacksonville guard Zane Beadles was imported on a three-year deal to replace Alex Boone, who left for Minnesota.
That’s hardly a ripple.
The focus of roster improvement thus falls upon the draft, which the 49ers also will enter in good shape. The 49ers also currently own second- and third-round picks, two fourth-rounders, three fifth-rounds and four sixth-rounders.
The 49ers need are virtually unchanged from the start of free agency last month.
Even with Kaepernick, are the 49ers convinced they have their franchise quarterback? Other needs: A state-of-the-art wide receiver, offensive line depth, a top-flight pass rusher, an inside linebacker to book-end NaVorro Bowman and a shutdown corner or two.
Alas, the good thing about having so many needs is it should allow general manager Trent Baalke to go “best player available” for most of the three-day marathon.
It could be a busy time for a guy who loves to wheel and deal draft picks.
So for the short term, the question in San Francisco is clear: Can the 49ers get to No. 2?
Moving up would cost the 49ers a bundle. Then again, they have both the quality and quantity of picks to get into the conversation, if that’s what they choose to do.
According to one popular draft trade chart, the 49ers would need to give up their first- and second-round picks (Nos. 7 and 37), along with next year’s first-rounder, to give the Browns value for the pick. They could also including recently unretired offensive tackle Anthony Davis or veteran safety Antoine Bethea.
There are two problems with being so bold:
–There is no clear-cut No. 1 prospect. The Rams’ move almost guarantees the 49ers will one of the players in the draft with a true blue-chip grade. Linebacker Myles Jack of UCLA, defensive back Jalen Ramsey of Florida State, defensive end Joey Bosa of Ohio State and tackle Laremy Tunsil of Mississippi are all good fits for the 49ers, but they could sit at No. 7 and it’s possible one of them would fall to them.
–Some NFL analysts project the 49ers to be the worst team in football right now. Can they really afford risking the top pick in next year’s draft just to get a shot at this year’s No. 1 guy, or their choice of quarterbacks?
No doubt, when he’s not counting the stacks of money left unspent in free agency this spring, Baalke has to be pondering his many draft-day options.
The anticipation sure beats a 49ers fan’s current excitement level about the upcoming season.
