Quarterback
WHO'S HERE:
Steve Young, Jeff Garcia.
DRAFT OUTLOOK:
With it looking more and more as if Young will not be back next season,
the 49ers will need to add at least two quarterbacks to the roster. They're
expected to sign journeyman Rick Mirer after June 1, and they will also
draft a QB. Unless they get Chad Pennington of Marshall at No. 12, the
49ers will likely take their QB in the second or third round, and don't
be surprised if it's Giovanni Carmazzi of Hofstra.
Running
back
WHO'S
HERE: Charlie Garner, Fred Beasley, Garrison Hearst, Travis Jervey,
Terry Jackson.
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: Hearst's availability for this season is in doubt, which means
the 49ers might look to use a mid- or late-round pick on a running back.
Receiver
WHO'S
HERE:
Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, J.J. Stokes, Tai Streets, Greg Clark (TE), Shonn
Bell (TE).
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: Like Young, it doesn't look too good for Jerry Rice returning
next season. Still, the 49ers have three young receivers who can keep the
position afloat. Remember, they made it to the NFC Championship game three
seasons ago with Owens and Stokes. Free agent Mark Harris might not be
back, so the 49ers could use a late-round pick on a wideout. They will
likely take a tight end to serve as Clark's backup.
Offensive line
WHO'S
HERE: Ray Brown, Dave Fiore, Derrick Deese, Jeremy Newberry, Chris
Dalman, Phil Ostrowski, Tyrone Hopson, Ben Lynch, Dan Dercher.
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: The offensive line returns intact, though the team would like
to add a big tackle it can put in the lineup and not worry about for years.
With so many needs on defense, the earliest the 49ers are likely to take
an offensive lineman would be in the second or third round. Adrian Klemm
of Hawaii is athletic, would fit into the system and might be there in
the second round.
Defensive
line
WHO'S
HERE: Bryant Young, Junior Bryant, Gabe Wilkins, Reggie McGrew, Chike
Okeafor, Jeff Posey.
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: The 49ers need a lot of help at defensive end, where they've
been unable to generate any semblance of a pass rush. Wilkins might be
cut in June, which means they could grab a starter -- possibly Tennessee's
Shaun Ellis -- as early as the No. 12 pick.
Linebacker
WHO'S
HERE: Ken Norton Jr., Winfred Tubbs, Joe Wesley.
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: The 49ers plan to move Tubbs to the outside to replace Lee
Woodall. So that means they'll be looking for a player to take on guards
on the inside. Jeff Ulbrich of Hawaii fits the mold of the kind of player
for whom they're looking after the first round, as there's better draft
depth on the inside. But they might also take a top-notch OLB, perhaps
Keith Bulluck of Syracuse or Julian Pittman of Michigan State, and leave
Tubbs alone.
Defensive back
WHO'S
HERE: Lance Schulters, Zack Bronson, Pierson Prioleau, Monty Montgomery,
Ramos McDonald, R.W. McQuarters, Anthony Parker.
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: The 49ers need a lot of cornerbacks, and it's possible they
might need to find two starters. They would love to get two of the top
five in the draft -- Deltha O'Neal of Cal, Ahmed Plummer of Ohio State,
Rashard Anderson of Jackson State, Ike Charlton of Virginia Tech and Lewis
Sanders of Maryland.
Kicking
WHO'S
HERE: Wade Richey, Chad Stanley.
DRAFT
OUTLOOK: Richey's spot is set, but they will likely bring in an undrafted
player to compete with Stanley in training camp.