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News » San Francisco 49ers Strategy and Personnel 2009-04-09


San Francisco 49ers Strategy and Personnel 2009-04-09


San Francisco 49ers Strategy and Personnel 2009-04-09
The 49ers have a lot of flexibility in the draft. The club has nine draft picks, with the first two coming at Nos. 10 and 43 overall. There really is not a position that the 49ers can be ruled out from selection, other than punter and kicker.


One 49ers source said the team will seriously consider trading back in the draft. But that decision would not be made until the morning of the draft - if the players the club has targeted have already been chosen.

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The 49ers signed free-agent tackle Marvel Smith to a two-year contract. That was about the 49ers' final glaring need. The team would like to sign a veteran cornerback after losing nickel back Donald Strickland in free agency. But the 49ers now head into the draft without a glaring need.

The 49ers want to give outside linebacker Manny Lawson a better chance to develop as a pass-rusher. Lawson as drafted in the first round in 2006, mostly because of the pass-rush skills he exhibited at North Carolina State. However, he has been used primarily in coverage in his time with the 49ers.

TEAM NEEDS

1. Outside linebacker: The 49ers have not had a player with 10 or more sacks since 2002. The club needs somebody on the other side to complement Parys Haralson, who led the 49ers with 8.5 sacks. This year's draft is deep with hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker types who are well-suited for a 3-4 defense. A consistent pass rush is the team's top weakness on defense.

2. Quarterback: Coach Mike Singletary has said he feels lucky to have Shaun Hill and Alex Smith on the roster, but the 49ers are still looking for a quarterback. They failed in an attempt to lure free-agent Kurt Warner to the team. The team is expected to look for a quarterback to develop in the draft. The question is whether they would select somebody in the first round.

3. Offensive tackle: Right tackle was a weakness for the 49ers last season. The 49ers had three different starts at that spot. Adam Snyder finished the season as the starter, but his versatility makes him better-suited as a backup. The 49ers signed Marvel Smith, but they still would like to create more depth at this spot.

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--RB DeShaun Foster languished on the sideline for most of the season as Frank Gore's backup. Showed his worth when pressed into action, but the 49ers might be looking to get younger at the backup spot.

--DE Roderick Green had a disappointing season as the third-down pass rusher. Team will be looking to upgrade.

--QB Jamie Martin is 39 and will not be back.

--TE Sean Ryan signed late in season as an H-back/fullback type. He is a low-priority re-signing.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--FB Zak Keasey: ERFA; terms unknown.

--KR
Allen Rossum: UFA; terms unknown.

--LB Takeo Spikes: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--DE Demetric Evans: UFA Redskins; $3.8M/2 yrs, guarantees.

--QB Damon Huard: FA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--WR Brandon Jones: UFA Titans; $16.6M/5 yrs, $5.4M guaranteed.

--FB Moran Norris: UFA Lions; $5M/3 yrs, $1.5M SB.

--OT Marvel Smith: UFA Steelers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

--DB Jimmy Williams: FA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

--TE Billy Bajema: UFA Rams; terms unknown.

--LB Tully Banta-Cain (released).

--OT Damane Duckett: UFA Patriots; terms unknown.

--DT Ronald Fields: UFA Broncos; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.

--OT Jonas Jennings (released).

--WR Bryant Johnson: UFA Lions; $9M/3 yrs, SB unknown.

--S Keith Lewis (released).

--QB J.T. O'Sullivan: UFA Bengals; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

--CB Donald Strickland: UFA Jets; 3 yrs, terms unknown.



Author:Fox Sports
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: April 9, 2009

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Damane Duckett Name: Damane Duckett
#63
Position: DT
Age: 27
Experience: 3 years
College: East Carolina
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