The San Francisco 49ers 2013 season ended Sunday night in disappointing fashion with a heartbreaking loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Now the front office has decisions to make for the upcoming 2014 season with 13 free agents including 11 unrestricted.
Here’s a look at that list:
Wide Receivers: Anquan Boldin, Kassim Osgood and Mario Manningham
Cornerbacks: Tarrell Brown, Perrish Cox, and Eric Wright
Running back: Anthony Dixon
Center: Jonathan Goodwin
Quarterback: Colt McCoy
Safety: Donte Whitner
Kicker: Phil Dawson
The only restricted free agent is tight end/defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs and linebacker Michael Wilhoite is an exclusive rights free agent.
San Francisco only has one player that is a must to re-sign and that is Boldin who caught 85 passes for 1,179 yards, a 13.9 yards per reception average and seven touchdown. During the playoffs he caught 16 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown. With the torn ACL and MCL suffered by NaVorro Bowman Wilhoite is also a lock for a roster spot as he played extremely well in two starts for the injured Patrick Willis.
Osgood, Dawson and Whitner are likely to get re-signed and each one made an impact throughout the season.
Those with the possibility of coming back are Goodwin who has been the starting center for the past three seasons though there’s a report that the 35-year old is mulling retirement. Out of the three cornerbacks Brown does have the best chance of getting brought back for depth. Meaning that Dixon, McCoy, Wright, Dobbs and Manningham will find a new team for 2014.
Whitner isn’t coming back in my opinion.
Don’t see why Whitner won’t be back? Could you elaborate on why not?
They can’t afford to bring him back.
Just depends on what the 49ers offer him and if he’s all about money or going for the Super Bowl again
They should keep everyone if possible. They have a roster right now that can win it all. Just like last season, Kaepernick making a few key mistakes cost them the game and you’re not going to replace him. A second full season should help him get better as a passer and with Crabtree in for the full season this time, if they can keep Boldin (which shouldn’t be a problem since he can’t demand a higher salary than he’s already being paid at his age), they should be able to win home field this time since without him, they were only an Amhad Brooks high hit on Brees away from a bye this time.
What the Niners need to concern themselves with is lining up replacements for older players like Justin Smith (Tank Carradine), Frank Gore (Marcus Lattamore) and Anquan Boldin and Jonathan Goodwin (hopefully they can draft potential replacements this year). The point is, the Niners are set as is and as long as they stay healthy and limit mistakes, they’ll be right there in the NFC Championship game for a 4th straight time.