The 49ers, the NFL's new juggernaut?

[ivanvamp]

They have an excellent front office. They have an excellent head coach. They have a very good, deep roster filled with pro-bowl caliber players. They have one of the best defenses in the league and one of the brightest young stars at QB. They just traded away an extraneous piece to clear 8+ million in cap space and pick up another draft pick, giving them 15 picks this year, 5 in the first 90.

49ers 2013 picks
1. First round: Own pick
2. Second round: from Kansas City in Alex Smith trade
3. Second round: Own pick
4. Third round: Own pick
5. Third round: From Carolina in trade-back during 2012 draft
6. Third round: Likely compensatory selection
7. Fourth round: Own pick
8. Fifth round: Own pick
9. Fifth round: From Indianapolis in trade-back during 2012 draft
10. Sixth round: Own pick
11. Sixth round: From Miami in trade-back during 2012 draft
12. Seventh round: Own pick
13. Seventh round: From Cincinnati for Taylor Mays
14. Seventh round: Likely compensatory selection
15. Seventh round: Likely compensatory selection

They don't have a lot of room for rookies, meaning they'll likely trade some picks for future picks (a la Belichick), or to trade up to get superior players in this draft.

But there's one other thought: they need a shutdown corner. The Jets have one in Darrelle Revis. The Jets also have a lot of holes. What if the 49ers traded the 2nd rounder they got from KC, and two third rounders, and a fourth rounder, for Revis (or something along those lines)? Then they trade their second, third, and a fifth to move into the first round again, giving them two first rounders plus Revis, and still leaving them with a fifth rounder, two sixth rounders, and four seventh rounders to pick up camp filler, a better kicker, and/or trade for picks in 2014?

The best team in the NFC would add a stud CB and two first round picks, have plenty of ammo left over to fill in the holes, and even be able to move some currency forward for next year.

I mean, holy smokes they could be frighteningly good.

 

[Joey007]

They're the last team I would want to se in the Super Bowl, no doubt.

I can't believe how stacked this team is. And with all their draft picks.... it's like they're becoming us!!

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Its all going to come down to Kaep. He looked nearly impossible to stop last year, which he might prove to be. I still cant help but worry about his frame taking hits with the amount of running he does, not to mention the wait and see how he progresses.

Beyond that, with their O line, D Line, Linebackers and receiving corp, its amazing they didnt win it this year. A year from now, with a couple extra corners or the big name that is getting thrown around, they could be terrifying.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'll give them props as one of the best teams out there. But....they will have o pay the piper like every other team out there. Aldon Smith,that guard (i's gottogopi) or whatever his name is,Patrick Willis,Crabtree etc. Kaepernick isnt going to play for that rookie contract forever either.

They've got it going on and they are one tough out as well as a young model franchise. They still have to go out there and play the salary cap game and make good draft choices. And as far as the defense? I like what I see but its not like they are unbeatable. They had a lot of points scored on them in the playoffs as well as the Pats dropping 28 in like 7 minutes. Add Revis and that makes them more scary though,no doubt. And just think? They could have two players that get away with unbelievable holding on just about every play. Justin Miller and Revis on the same team would almost be unfair. Literally.

 

[IllegalContact]

OT: The 49ers, the NFL's new juggernaut?

The qb is going to wind up killing them.....

Justin smith is getting old and he is to them what wilfork is to the pats

 

[patsfan-1982]

i dont know about juggernaut but they are set up to be a playoff team for the next few years but they have a team in there own division the seahawks who are just as young and IMO have a better QB so unlike the pats the 49ers will have a hard time winning there division thats way i cant call them a juggernaut

 

[Sciz]

Whatever happens, they're going to have to deal with more injuries than they had this season. Excluding Alex Smith's concussion (since it actually made the team better), the 49ers had 7 missed games by starters. Manningham missed four, Justin Smith two, and Sopoaga one. For comparison, the Patriots had 32 missed games by 12 starters. The 49ers aren't getting that lucky again.

 

[Froob]

Really good team but I think their defense can be exposed. Don't see them becoming a dynasty or anything.

 

[DocHoliday]

1.) They will have to replace Justin Smith, who is getting old. Without their stunt and rush with Aldon they have no pass rush. Their defensive ability tumbled as soon as Smith was out.

2.) Many of their successful players are from former GM Scot McCloughan, current Senior Personell Director of the Seahawks (also was involved in picking many of the players on the 05 SB team). Coincidence in the recent success? No. Let's see if Harbaugh can shop for his own groceries.

3.) 15 picks means nothing. The Patriots were overflowing for years with picks and whiffed on many of them.

4.) Will Kaep be figured out? Injured? We'll see. Either way, he's going to want a payday after next season, and Goldson wants his multiyear deal. A lot of rookie contracts end for the 49ers next season.

5.) Frank Gore turns 30 in May.

6.) Injuries will mount as another person has said. The 49ers have stacked starters, but nowhere near as much impressive depth.

 

[eom]

comparatively speaking, they're in about as good a shape as you get in the nfl, but I doubt you'll see many juggernaut dynasties anymore.

to play devil's advocate -- I think they're only around 6m(?) under the cap after the smith trade, although with a full roster signed, and all those draft picks, they shouldn't need much room.
also, justin smith is in the last year of his deal.

after kaep took over they got beat by the 7 win rams, who they had tied earlier in the year, and got beat 42-13 by sea, so it's not like they're invincible.
for all the talk about how epic this d is, and how historically bad the pats' is, how often do you see 42 put up on the patriots?
(sf only managed 41, wiseasses)

edit: people were saying the same about the giants after 2007

 

[ctpatsfan77]

3.) 15 picks means nothing. The Patriots were overflowing for years with picks and whiffed on many of them.

Equally importantly, it doesn't matter how many picks a team has, every team gets 53 roster spots. If they want to add 10 rookies, they have to cut 10 players they already have.

 

[eom]

Equally importantly, it doesn't matter how many picks a team has, every team gets 53 roster spots. If they want to add 10 rookies, they have to cut 10 players they already have.

yeah, but they could probably roll picks into next year, or consolidate by moving up.
assuming they don't burn any on a revis, et al trade.

8 picks in 5 rounds isn't a bad place to be in, especially when a 2nd is from kc, and a 3rd from car.

 

[HomerSchooled]

They do look scary good, and really well set up for the next couple years. Everyone in that organization has done an unbelievable job since 2011. No team in the league worries me more. Reasons for hope?

-Like people have said, Justin Smith is critical to their success, and he'll be 34 next season. Any decline or missed time from him is disastrous.
-For all the excitement about Kaepernick, he isn't perfect, and he could come back down to earth this year as people get used to him. He was very mortal against teams like STL and Seattle. Speaking of...
-Seattle is just as good. Maybe, if we're lucky, they'll beat each other into oblivion.

As for Revis? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He'll demand money that just won't make sense for them long term, and he won't be happy unless he gets it THIS year. He's not the type flexible enough to make this sort of thing work.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

OT: The 49ers, the NFL's new juggernaut?

I am sorry but kap won't be that good, I watched this dude at unr and I am in Reno. One hit away and his best ability to run is done.

 

[mgteich]

Call me when they've won 3 Super Bowls in a four year period.

 

[ausbacker]

I'll be interested to see how the 49ers cope if they're faced with an injury epidemic on D. They are good squad in a strong position.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Kaepernick is the real deal in my mind. First of all, people like to label him as a 'runner'. But he's already ahead of where Eli Manning was as a passer after 10 games, and he improved radically in a short space of time. Plus he protects his body well because most of his runs are on cleared-out pass plays, and he can get out of bounds on those. He's also shown decent ability going through progressions for someone of his background. He does need to improve from under center but he isn't the gimmick people are making him out to be. He's more Aaron Rodgers than Michael Vick.

The issue with SF is they have about a 2 year window to win it. Beating that window will take continued organizational success, and you don't know if they can survive losing the first wave of important players (Iupati, Smith x2, Boone, Davis x2) or not. They also need to sort out the safety position next season (Goldson is a FA and Whitner is deplorable).

But if I had to guess who wins the SB next year, I'd pick SF.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Kaepernick is the real deal in my mind. First of all, people like to label him as a 'runner'. But he's already ahead of where Eli Manning was as a passer after 10 games, and he improved radically in a short space of time. Plus he protects his body well because most of his runs are on cleared-out pass plays, and he can get out of bounds on those. He's also shown decent ability going through progressions for someone of his background. He does need to improve from under center but he isn't the gimmick people are making him out to be. He's more Aaron Rodgers than Michael Vick.

The issue with SF is they have about a 2 year window to win it. Beating that window will take continued organizational success, and you don't know if they can survive losing the first wave of important players (Iupati, Smith x2, Boone, Davis x2) or not. They also need to sort out the safety position next season (Goldson is a FA and Whitner is deplorable).

But if I had to guess who wins the SB next year, I'd pick SF.

Right now I'd say the favorites from the NFC are the Falcons.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Right now I'd say the favorites from the NFC are the Falcons.

Interesting choice. I liked them a lot last season, but I can't put them over the 9ers until 1. Gonzo comes back and 2. I get proof their defense won't regress to the mean. I don't see much talent out there, especially on the defensive line, and their inability to generate any semblance of an outside pass rush really killed them in their playoff games.

 

[mgteich]

Bettors betting real money disagree with you. Atlanta is tied with New Orleans as the $th most likely NFC team to win the Super Bowl, behind SF, GB and Seattle. BTW, the Giant are bid behind Atlanta and NO in the betting, but no by much.

Right now I'd say the favorites from the NFC are the Falcons.