The 49ers have not experienced a winning season in six years. The team has a lot of needs, but there is no area with such glaring shortcomings that the 49ers feel desperate to address it in the first round.

Coach Mike Singletary said he feels lucky to have quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Alex Smith on the roster. Yet, the club went after veteran Kurt Warner in free agency. The 49ers also reportedly showed initial interest in Jay Cutler before backing out because of the Denver Broncos' steep demands.

The 49ers have invested a lot of time in studying the top quarterbacks available in this year's draft. The club had personal visits with Matthew Stafford of Georgia, Southern Cal's Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman of Kansas State. Each player is projected as a first-round draft pick.

Are the 49ers interested in selecting a quarterback with the No. 10 overall pick? Or do they want to create more intrigue to perhaps increase the trade value if Stafford or Sanchez should go unclaimed after the first nine picks in the draft?

Quarterback is certainly not the team's only option. The 49ers can go any number of different ways with their first-round selection, including wide receiver.

Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech appears to be the best receiver available. The 49ers would probably take him at No. 10 if he unexpectedly lasts that long. Missouri's Jeremy Maclin could also warrant serious consideration.

The club has its eyes on the top four offensive tackles. The belief is that the 49ers would be willing to add Alabama's Andre Smith or Mississippi's Michael Oher, if given the chance.

The 49ers might also find a good fit for their 3-4 defensive scheme with nose tackle B.J. Raji of Boston College. Raji paid a visit to the 49ers recently. He is seen as one of the few defensive tackles with the versatility to play stout against the run while also providing some pass rush.

The 49ers recorded just 30 sacks last season, so they are in need of more pass rush from outside linebacker. They could select a player, such as Texas' Brian Orakpo, in the first round. But this draft is extremely deep in this area. They could wait until the second or third rounds to select a player, such as Northern Illinois' Larry English or Virginia's Clint Sintim.

Although the 49ers are certainly not looking to replace running back Frank Gore, both Singletary and general manager Scot McCloughan have made it known that they want to select a bigger back to share the load with Gore. McCloughan said he likes the depth in this draft at running back. It is the main reason the club showed no interest in re-signing DeShaun Foster or making a foray into the free-agent market for a running back.

TEAM NEEDS: Outside linebacker, offensive tackle, wide receiver, quarterback, running back.

OLB -- Parys Haralson signed a four-year contract extension, but it's not that side that the 49ers needed the pass-rush upgrade. The 49ers got almost no production from the other side last season. They want to give Manny Lawson more of a chance to rush the passer this season. However, the 49ers must draft a player who has a legitimate shot at getting on the field as a third-down pass rusher. There figure to be a lot of options for the team within the first three rounds of the draft.

OT -- Currently, there is a starter at every spot on the line after the 49ers signed veteran Marvel Smith to a low-risk two-year contract. But Smith's health is a concern. He missed 15 games the past two seasons with back problems. The 49ers already have Joe Staley at one tackle spot. If they can draft another tackle, such as Andre Smith or Michael Oher, they could be set for a long time.

WR -- Veteran Isaac Bruce is coming back for another season. The 49ers also signed free agent Brandon Jones from the Tennessee Titans. The club has some depth at this position, but they still lack a true No. 1 receiver. Josh Morgan enters his second season with high hopes. He showed flashes of potential as a rookie but had a difficult time remaining healthy. If the 49ers can get a player like Michael Crabtree in the first round, he would be expected to provide an immediate impact.

QB -- The 49ers were interested in acquiring Kurt Warner and Jay Cutler this offseason because they believe those players would've provided an immediate upgrade over Shaun Hill or Alex Smith. While it's questionable whether the 49ers could draft a quarterback who would become an immediate starter, the club will definitely keep an open mind about selecting a quarterback at some point in this draft. It might be with the No. 10 overall pick or it could be as late as the fifth round.

RB -- Frank Gore has been the 49ers' workhorse for three seasons. The club believes more rest would benefit Gore and the rest of the offense. Gore will continue to be the featured, every-down back. But the 49ers want to add a young player, preferably a bigger back, to take some of the wear and tear off Gore. The 49ers say their goal is to play in the postseason, so they want Gore to be able to hold up physically over the course of 19 games, not just 16 games. The 49ers should have plenty of options at landing a back as early as the second round.